/n>v" . ,,c4^ 

JAN  9  1924 

S^iOGiCAL  StViV^ 


BX  8418  .A3  1923 
Free  Methodist  Church  of 
North  America. 

Doctrines  and  discipline  of 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/doctrinesdisciplOOfree 


COPTBIGHT  1923 


BY 

THE  FKEE  METHODIST  PUBLISHING  HOUSE 


CONTENTS 


PAR. 


The  Free  .Methodist  Chttrch — Origin-  and 

Character  .  1-11 

PART  I 

THE  CONSTITUTION- 

DIVISION 

Preamble  .  15 

I.  Articles  of  Religion .  16-38 

II.  General  Rules  . 39-46 

III.  Articles  of  Organization  and  Govern¬ 
ment  .  47-62 

1.  Pastoral  Charges,  Quarterly  and 

Annual  Conferences  .  47—19 

2.  The  General  Conference  .  50-62 

PART  II 

THE  CHURCH 

,  CHAPTER 

I.  Special  Advices  .  63-73 

1.  Temperance  .  63-65 

2.  Marriage  and  Divorce . 66-70 

3.  Dress  .  71 

4.  Secret  Societies  .  72,  73 

II.  Membership  _ * .  74479 

1.  Reception  on  Probation .  74 

2.  Admission  into  Full  Membership..  75-78 

3.  Transfer  of  Membership  by  Certifi¬ 

cate  .  79 

III.  Worship  . 80-85 

1.  Order  of  Public  Worship .  80 

2.  Singing  .  81 

3.  Love-Feasts  .  82 

4.  Classes  and  Class  Meetings .  83-85 

Mi 


iv 


CONTENTS 


PART  III 

OFFICIAL  BODIES 

CHAPTER  PAR. 

I.  The  General  Conference .  86-99 

II.  The  Executive  Committee .  100-104 

III.  The  Annual  Conferences .  105-124 

IV.  The  Quarterly  Conference .  125-127 

V.  The  Official  Board .  128, 129 

VI.  The  Circuit  Meeting .  130, 131 

VII.  The  Society  Meeting .  132, 133 


PART  IV 
the  ministry 

I.  Qualifications  and  Work .  134-149 

1.  The  Call  to  Preach .  134 

2.  Rules  for  Preacher’s  Conduct . 135,136 

3.  Spiritual  Qualification  .  137,  138 

4.  Matter  and  Manner  of  Preaching.  139,140 

5.  Where  to  Preach .  141 

6.  Pastoral  Visitation  .  142-146 

7.  Employment  of  Time .  147 

8.  Union  Among  Ourselves .  148 

9.  Union  with  Others .  149 

II.  Ministers  and  Annual  Conferences .  150-154 

1.  Reception  on  Trial .  150 

2.  Reception  into  Full  Membership..  151 

3.  Reception  from  Other  Denomina¬ 

tions  .  152 

4.  Termination  of  Conference  Mem¬ 

bership  .  153, 154 

III.  Deacons  and  Elders .  155,157 

IV.  Bishops  .  158, 159 

V.  District  Elders  .  160 

VI.  Pastors,  or  Preachers  in  Charge .  161, 162 

VII.  Supernumerary  and  Superannuated 

Preachers  . . . . . . . .  163,164 


V 


CONTENTS 


PART  V 

LOCAL  PREACHERS  AND  LAY  HELPERS 


CHAPTER  PAR. 

I.  Local  Preachers  .  165-171 

II.  Evangelists  .  172 

III.  Exhorters  .  173 

IV.  Deaconesses  .  171 

V.  Bands  and  Band  Workers .  175 

VI.  Class  Leaders  .  176 

VII.  Stewards  .  177, 178 


PART  VI 

JUDICIAL  ADMINISTRATION 


I.  Church  Trials  .  179-208 

1.  Object  of  Church  Discipline .  179-181 

2.  General  Directions  .  182.  183 

3.  Trial  of  Preachers  in  Full  Mem¬ 

bership  .  184-193 

4.  Form  of  Procedure .  194, 195 

Form  for  a  Bill  of  Charges .  194 

Order  of  Conducting  Church 
Trials  .  195 

5.  Restoration  of  Credentials .  196 

6.  Proceedings  Against  a  Preacher  on 

Trial  .  197 

7.  The  Trial  of  a  Local  Preacher....  198-201 

8.  The  Trial  of  an  Accused  Member  202-208 

Ground  of  Complaint .  202 

Notification  of  Time  and  Place  of 

Trial  .  203 

Election  of  Committee  to  Try  a 

Case  .  204,  205 

Presiding  Officer  .  206 

Right  of  Appeal .  207 

Restoration  of  Membership .  208 

II.  Insolvencies  and  the  Settlement  of 

Disputes  .  209-213 


VI 


CONTENTS 


TART  VII 

TEMPORAL  ECONOMY 

CHAPTER  PAR. 

I.  Support  of  Effective  Ministers .  214-217 

1.  Support  of  Bishops .  214 

2.  Support  of  District  Elders .  215 

3.  Support  of  Preachers  in  Charge..  216 

4.  Support  of  Evangelists .  217 

II.  Support  of  Superannuated  Preachers 

and  Other  Claimants .  218-231 

III.  Church  Property  .  232-244 

1.  Trustees — Appointment  and  Duties  232-236 

2.  Incorporation  and  Deeds .  237-243 

3.  Erection  cf  Churches .  244 

IV.  Church  and  Parsonage  Aid . 244a-244f 

1.  General  Church  Society .  244a 

2.  Conference  Society  .  244b 

3.  Aid  .  244c 

4.  Duty  of  Preachers .  244d 

5.  Reserve  Fund  .  244e 

6.  Emergency  .  244f 

PART  VIII 

EDUCATIONAL  AND  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS 

I.  Education  .  245-248 

1.  Board  of  Education .  245 

2.  Annual  Conference  Board .  246 

3.  Educational  Institutions  .  247 

4.  Duties  of  Pastors .  248 

II.  Sunday-schools  .  249-256 

1.  General  Sunday-school  Board .  249 

2.  Conference  Sunday-school  Boards.  250 

3.  District  Sunday-school  Boards....  251 

4.  Conference  Sunday-school  Secre¬ 

taries  .  252 

5.  Duties  of  Pastors .  253 

6.  Local  Sunday-school  Board .  254 

7.  Sunday-school  Superintendent .  255 

8.  Offering  for  Sunday-school  Work  256 


CONTENTS  vii 

CHATTER  PAR. 

III.  Missionary  TCork  .  257-287 

General  Missionary  Board .  257-268 

1.  Name  and  Objects .  257 

2.  Membership— Officers — Duties  .  256-258 

3.  General  Conference  Missionary 

Districts  .  262 

4.  Members  of  the  General  Mission¬ 

ary  Board  .  263 

5.  Directors  of  the  General  Mission¬ 

ary  Board  .  264 

6.  Secretary  .  265 

7.  Treasurer .  266 

8.  Duties  of  Preachers  in  Charge....  267 

9.  Annual  Conference  Missionary 

Funds  .  26S 

IV.  South  Africa  Mission  Conference .  270-275 

1.  A  Mission  Conference .  270 

2.  Membership  .  271 

3.  Prerogatives  Restricted  .  272 

4.  The  Missionaries’  Meeting .  273 

5.  The  Executive  Committee .  275 

V.  Japan  Mission  Conference .  276-284 

1.  Membership  .  276 

2.  Churches  .  277 

3.  Stationing  Committee  .  278 

4.  Advisory  Board  .  279 

5.  Finances  .  280 

6.  Church  Property  .  281 

7.  Prerogatives  Restricted  .  282 

S.  The  Mission  .  283 

9.  Appeals  and  Amendments .  284 

VI.  Home  Missions  .  2S5-287 

1.  Definition  and  Organization .  285 

2.  Relation  to  Annual  Conference...  286 

3.  Duties  of  Pastors .  287 

VII.  Relation  of  Canadian  Conferences .  288 


viii 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  pAR< 

VIII.  Church  Extension  .  2S9,  290 

1.  The  General  Church  Extension 

Society  .  2S8 

2.  Conference  Church  Extension  and 

Aid  Society  .  290 

IX.  Charitable  Institutions  .  291 

Board  of  Charities  and  Benevolences...  291 

X.  Aggressive  Evangelism  .  292 

1.  General  Conference  Board .  292 

2.  Conference  Evangelistic  Board....  29214 

XI.  The  Publishing  House .  293 

PART  IX 

conference  boundaries 

I.  Conference  Boundaries  .  294-338 

Conference  Boundaries  .  294-338 

Disputes  About,  How  Settled .  339 


PART  X 
the  ritual 

I.  Baptism  .  340-342 

1.  Of  Infants  .  341 

2.  Of  Those  of  Riper  Years .  342 

II.  The  Lord’s  Supper .  343,  344 

1.  General  Directions  .  343 

2.  Order  for  the  Administration  of 

the  Lord’s  Supper .  344 

III.  The  Marriage  Ceremony .  345 

IV.  The  Burial  of  the  Dead .  346 

V.  Ordination  Services  .  347, 348 

1.  Ordination  of  Elders .  347 

2.  Ordination  of  Deacons .  348 

VI.  Form  for  Dedication  of  Churches .  349 


CONTENTS  ix 

PART  XI 

COURSES  OF  STUDY 

CHAPTER  TAR. 

I.  Course  of  Study  for  Traveling 

Preachers  .  350-354 

II.  Course  of  Study  for  Local  Preachers  355-358 

1.  For  Local  Preachers  who  are  to 

be  examined  by  the  quarterly 
conference  .  355,  356 

2.  For  Local  Preachers  who  Wish 

to  be  Ordained  Deacons .  357 

3.  For  Local  Deacons  who  Wish  to 

be  Ordained  Elders .  358 

III.  Course  of  Study  for  Deaconesses . 359-359a 

IV.  Course  of  Reading  for  Class  Leaders  360 

V.  Course  of  Study  for  Missionaries  in 

Africa  .  361-364 

VI.  Course  of  Study  for  Missionaries  in 

India  . 365-368 

VII.  Biele  School  Course  for  Natives  in 

India  .  369-377 

VIII.  Course  of  Study  for  Missionaries  in 

China  . 378-381 

IX.  Central  Board  of  Conference  Exam¬ 
iners  .  3S2 

PART  XII 

APPENDIX 

I.  Incorporation  of  the  Free  Methodist 

Church  .  383 

II.  Residences,  Addresses,  etc .  3S4-389 

III.  Administration  Boards  .  390-396 

IV.  Constructions  of  Law  by  the  General 

Conference  .  397-479 

V.  Constitution  of  the  General  Woman’s 

Missionary  Society  . 482 

VI.  Forms  . 483 


FREE  METHODIST  DISCIPLINE 


The  Free  Methodist  Church 


ORIGIN  AND  CHARACTER 

I.  Dearly  Beloved:  We  think  it  expedient  to 
give  you  a  brief  account  of  the  origin  and  character 
of  Free  Methodism. 

Wesley  says:  “In  the  year  1729  two  young  men 
in  England,  reading  the  Bible,  saw  they  could  not 
be  saved  without  holiness;  they  followed  after  it  and 
incited  others  to  do  so.  In  1737,  they  .saw,  likewise, 
that  men  are  justified  before  they  are  sanctified;  but 
still  holiness  was  their  object.  God  thrust  them  out 
to  raise  up  a  holy  people.” 

If  2.  Methodism  spread  through  England  and  Amer¬ 
ica.  and  in  other  countries.  From  time  to  time  dif¬ 
ferent  bodies  arose  bearing  the  Methodist  name.  As 
they  became  popular  there  was  more  or  less  departure 
from  the  original  principles  and  practise  of  Methodism. 

If  3.  In  the  Genesee  conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  about  the  year  185S,  several 
preachers  and  many  members  were  excluded  from 
the  church  on  various  charges  and  allegations,  but 
really  for  their  adherence  to  the  principles  of  Meth¬ 
odism;  especially  to  the  doctrine  and  experience  of 
entire  sanctification. 

II  4.  Appeals  were  made  to  the  general  conference, 
which  were  denied.  Those  excluded  could  not  join 
any  other  Methodist  body,  for  there  was  none  that 
agreed  with  them  on  the  issues  on  which  they  were 


3 


4 


ORIGIN  AND  CHARACTER 


thrust  out.  Therefore  they  felt  compelled  to  form  a 
new  organization. 

If  5.  The  Free  Methodist  church  was  organized  by 
a  convention  of  lay  members  and  ministers,  which 
met  at  Pekin,  Niagara  county,  New  York,  on  the  23d 
day  of  August,  1860.  The  first  general  conference 
met  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  October,  1862,  at 
St.  Charles,  Illinois. 

If  6.  The  Free  Methodists  are  a  body  of  Christians 
who  profess  to  be  in  earnest  to  get  to  heaven,  by  con¬ 
forming  to  all  the  will  of  God,  as  made  known  in  his 
word.  They  do  not  believe  that  either  God  or  the 
Bible  has  changed  to  accommodate  the  fashionable 
tendencies  of  the  age.  They  solemnly  protest  against 
the  union  of  the  Church  and  the  world.  The  condi¬ 
tions  of  salvation,  as  they  teach,  are  the  same  now 
that  they  were  eighteen  hundred  years  ago.  He  who 
would  be  a  Christian  in  reality,  as  well  as  in  name, 
must  deny  himself,  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow 
Jesus.  He  must  come  out  from  the  world  and  be 
separate,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing. 

If  7.  In  doctrine  they  are  Methodists.  They  believe 
in  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  in  a  general  atone¬ 
ment,  in  the  necessity  of  the  new  birth,  in  the  witness 
of  the  Spirit,  and  in  future  rewards  and  punishments. 
They  insist  that  it  is  the  duty  and  privilege  of  every 
believer  to  be  sanctified  wholly,  and  to  be  preserved 
blameless  unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Every  one  who  is  received  into  full  connection,  either 
professes  to  enjoy  that  perfect  love  which  casts  out 
fear,  or  promises  diligently  to  seek  until  he  obtains  it. 

If  8.  They  look  upon  practical  godliness  as  the  never 
failing  result  of  a  genuine  religious  experience.  “By 
their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them.”  Hence  they  insist 
that  those  who  profess  to  be  the  disciples  of  Christ 
should  come  out  from  unbelievers  and  be  separate, 
abstaining  from  connection  with  all  secret  societies, 


ORIGIN  AND  CHARACTER 


5 


renouncing  all  vain  pomp  and  glory,  adorning  them¬ 
selves  with  modest  apparel,  and  not  with  gold,  or 
pearls,  or  costly  array.  We  have  no  right  to  abolish 
any  of  the  requirements  made  by  Christ  and  the 
apostles;  or  to  make  obedience  to  them  a  matter  of 
small  consequence.  The  golden  rule,  they  hold,  ap¬ 
plies  equally  to  all  mankind. 

ff  9.  The  government  is  not  aristocratic,  but  the 
members  have  an  equal  voice  with  the  ministers  in 
all  the  councils  of  the  church.  Both  the  annual 
and  the  general  conferences  are  composed  of  as 
many  lay  as  ministerial  delegates,  who  have  an 
equal  voice  and  vote  in  all  the  proceedings.  The 
stationing  committee,  by  which  the  appointments 
are  made,  is  composed  of  the  district  elders  and 
an  equal  number  of  lay  members  chosen  for  that 
purpose.  The  official  boards  are  selected  by  the 
members  of  circuits,  and  not  appointed  by  the 
preachers.  They  have  district  elders,  who  may  be 
appointed  to  circuits  the  same  as  the  rest  of  the 
preachers.  They  have  bishops  elected  once  in  four 
years,  whose  duty  it  is  to  preside  at  the  annual  con¬ 
ferences,  and  travel  through  the  connection  at 
large.  The  rights  of  the  members  are  carefully 
guarded. 

If  10.  They  endeavor  to  promote  spirituality  and 
simplicity  in  worship.  Congregational  singing  is  uni¬ 
versal,  and  performances  upon  musical  instruments 
and  singing  by  choirs  in  public  worship  are  prohibited. 
They  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  If  men  are  really 
converted  and  sanctified,  it  is  through  the  Spirit  of 
God.  When  he  works  there  is  a  stir.  As  President 
Edwards  says,  “Eternal  things  are  so  great,  and  of 
such  vast  concern  that  there  is  great  absurdity  in  men 
being  but  moderately  moved  and  affected  by  them.” 
“Where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty.” 


6 


ORIGIN  AND  CHARACTER 


The  Free  Methodists,  while  they  do  not  believe  in  any 
mere  formal  noise,  yet,  when  the  Spirit  comes,  like 
“a  rushing  mighty  wind,”  as  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
do  not  dare  to  oppose  the  manifestations  of  his 
presence.  As  Edwards  says,  “Whenever  there  is  any 
considerable  degree  of  the  Spirit’s  influence  upon  a 
mixed  multitude,  it  will  produce,  in  some  way,  a  great 
visible  commotion.”  To  resist  his  operations  is  to 
hinder  the  work  of  God. 

If  I  I .  They  do  not  believe  in  resorting  to  worldly 
policy  to  sustain  the  gospel.  Christ  has  said  that 
whosoever  giveth  a  cup  of  cold  water  in  his  name 
shall  in  no  wise  lose  his  reward.  But  it  is  the  motive, 
and  not  the  amount  done,  that  secures  the  divine  ap¬ 
probation.  There  is  no  more  virtue  in  giving  to  the 
cause  of  God  for  carnal  pleasure  than  there  is  in  any 
other  purely  selfish  action.  Hence  they  give  no  coun¬ 
tenance  to  modern  expedients  for  promoting  Chris¬ 
tianity,  such  as  selling  or  renting  pews,  lotteries,  fairs, 
sales,  or  other  like  expedients  for  raising  money.  To 
say  that  the  Church  cannot  be  sustained  without  these 
contrivances  to  beguile  the  world  into  its  support  is 
to  confess  that  professing  Christians  are  “lovers  of 
pleasure  more  than  lovers  of  God.”  It  is  to  pronounce 
Christianity  a  failure.  The  gospel  possesses  an  in¬ 
herent  power  that  will  not  only  sustain  itself,  but 
make  its  way  through  all  opposition,  wherever  its 
advocates  live  up  to  its  requirements  and  rely  upon 
its  promises. 

If  12.  They  believe  the  Church  of  Christ  is  a  soul¬ 
saving  institution  of  divine  origin  for  holy  purposes, 
therefore  they  prohibit  festivals  and  donation  parties, 
such  as  include  anything  in  the  line  of  entertain¬ 
ments  contrary  to  the  spirit  and  letter  of  our  Dis¬ 
cipline,  and  all  other  forms  of  worldly  amusements  in 
their  church  buildings  or  by  their  church  organizations. 

^f  13.  All  their  churches  are  required  to  be  as  free 


ORIGIN  AND  CHARACTER 


7 


as  the  grace  they  preach.  They  believe  that  their 
mission  is  twofold — to  maintain  the  Bible  standard 
of  Christianity,  and  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor. 
Hence  they  require  that  all  seats  in  their  houses  of 
worship  shall  be  free.  No  pews  can  be  rented  or  sold 
among  them.  The  world  will  never  be  converted  to 
Christianity  wThen  the  churches  are  conducted  upon 
the  exclusive  system.  It  has  always  been  contrary 
to  the  economy  of  the  Christian  Church  to  build 
houses  of  worship  with  pews  to  rent.  Such  renting 
of  pews  is  a  corruption  of  Christianity.  Free 
churches  are  essential  to  reach  the  masses.  The 
provisions  of  the  gospel  are  for  all.  The  “glad  tid¬ 
ings”  must  be  proclaimed  to  every  individual  of  the 
human  race.  God  sends  the  true  light  to  illuminate 
and  melt  every  heart.  To  savage  and  civilized,  bond 
and  free,  black  and  white,  the  ignorant  and  the 
learned,  is  freely  offered  the  great  salvation. 

But  for  whose  benefit  are  special  efforts  to  be  put 
forth?  Who  must  be  particularly  cared  for?  Jesus 
settles  this  question.  “The  blind  receive  their  sight, 
and  the  lame  walk,  the  lepers  are  cleansed,  and  the 
deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised  up,”  and,  as  if  all  this 
would  be  insufficient  to  satisfy  John  of  the  validity 
of  his  claims,  he  adds,  “and  the  poor  have  the  gospel 
preached  to  them.”  This  was  the  crowning  proof 
that  he  was  the  One  that  should  come.  In  this  re¬ 
spect  the  Church  must  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  Je¬ 
sus.  She  must  see  to  it  that  the  gospel  is  preached 
to  the  poor.  Thus  this  duty  is  enjoined  by  the  plain¬ 
est  precepts  and  examples.  If  the  gospel  is  to  be 
preached  to  all,  then  it  follows,  as  a  necessary  con¬ 
sequence,  that  all  the  arrangements  for  preaching  the 
gospel  should  be  so  made  as  to  secure  this  object. 
If  it  be  said  that  seats  would  be  freely  given  to  those 
who  are  unable  to  pay  for  them,  they  answer  that  this 
does  not  meet  the  case.  Few  are  willing,  so  long  as 


8 


ORIGIN  AND  CHARACTER 


they  are  able  to  appear  at  church,  to  be  publicly 
treated  as  paupers. 

ff  14.  You  will  find  in  this  book  the  doctrines  and 
form  of  government  of  the  Free  Methodist  church 
as  adopted  by  the  general  conference. 

We  do  not  wish  any  to  subscribe  to  it  unless  they 
believe  it  will  be  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good 
of  their  souls.  We  have  no  desire  to  build  up  simply 
a  large  church;  but  we  do  hope  that  our  societies 
will  be  composed,  excusively,  of  those  who  are  in 
earnest  to  gain  heaven,  and  wTho  are  determined,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  to  live  up  to  the  requirements  of 
the  Bible. 

It  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  those  who 
come  into  this  organization  shall  be  of  one  heart  and 
one  mind. 


PART  I 

THE  CONSTITUTION 


DIVISIONS 

I.  ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 

II.  GENERAL  RULES 

III.  ARTICLES  OF  ORGANIZATION  AND 
GOVERNMENT 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF 
THE  FREE  METHODIST  CHURCH 
OF  NORTH  AMERICA 


Preamble 

If  15.  In  order  that  we  may  wisely  preserve  the 
heritage  transmitted  to  us,  and  also  that  we  may  pre¬ 
pare  the  way  for  more  effective  cooperation  with 
other  branches  of  the  church  of  Christ  in  all  that 
makes  for  the  advancement  of  God’s  kingdom  among 
men,  we,  the  ministers  and  lay  members  of  the  Free 
Methodist  Church  of  North  America,  in  accordance 
with  methods  of  constitutional  legislation  established 
among  us,  do  hereby  ordain,  establish,  and  set  forth 
as  the  fundamental  law,  or  constitution,  of  the  Free 
Methodist  Church  of  North  America,  the  articles  of 
religion,  the  general  rules,  and  the  articles  of  or¬ 
ganization  and  government,  here  following,  to  wit: 


DIVISION  1 

ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 

I.  Of  Faith  in  the  Holy  Trinity 

If  16.  There  is  but  one  living  and  true  God,  ever¬ 
lasting,  without  body  or  parts,  of  infinite  power,  wis¬ 
dom  and  goodness,  the  maker  and  preserver  of  all 
things,  visible  and  invisible.  And  in  unity  of  this 


11 


12  ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 

Godhead  there  are  three  persons  of  one  substance, 
power  and  eternity — the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

II.  Of  the  Word,  or  Son  of  God,  Who  Was  Made 

Very  Man 

If  17.  The  Son,  who  is  the  Word  of  the  Father,  the 
very  and  eternal  God,  of  one  substance  with  the 
Father,  took  man’s  nature  in  the  womb  of  the  blessed 
virgin,  so  that  the  two  whole  and  perfect  natures,  that 
is  to  say,  the  Godhead  and  manhood,  were  joined  to¬ 
gether  in  one  person,  never  to  be  divided,  whereof  is 
one  Christ,  very  God  and  very  man,  who  truly  suf¬ 
fered,  was  crucified,  dead  and  buried,  to  reconcile  his 
Father  to  us,  and  to  be  a  sacrifice,  not  only  for  the 
original  guilt,  but  also  for  the  actual  sins  of  men. 

III.  Of  the  Resurrection  of  Christ 

H  18.  Christ  did  truly  rise  again  from  the  dead, 
and  took  again  his  body,  with  all  things  appertaining 
to  the  perfection  of  man’s  nature,  wherewith  he 
ascended  into  heaven,  and  there  sitteth  until  he  re¬ 
turns  to  judge  all  men  at  the  last  day. 

IV.  Of  the  Holy  Ghost 

If  19.  The  Holy  Ghost,  proceeding  from  the  Father 
and  the  Son,  is  of  one  substance,  majesty  and  glory 
with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  very  and  eternal  God. 

V.  The  Sufficiency  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  for 

Salvation 

If  20.  The  Holy  Scriptures  contain  all  things  nec¬ 
essary  to  salvation;  so  that  whatsoever  is  not  read 
therein,  nor  may  be  proved  thereby,  is  not  to  be  re¬ 
quired  of  any  man,  that  it  should  be  believed  as  an 
article  of  faith,  or  be  thought  requisite  or  necessary 


ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 


13 


to  salvation.  By  the  term  Holy  Scriptures  we  under¬ 
stand  those  canonical  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa¬ 
ments  of  whose  authority  there  was  never  any  doubt 
in  the  Church. 

The  names  of  the  canonical  books  are:  Genesis, 
Exodus,  Leviticus,  Numbers,  Deuteronomy,  Joshua, 
Judges,  Ruth,  the  First  Book  of  Samuel,  the  Second 
Book  of  Samuel,  the  First  Book  of  Kings,  the  Second 
Book  of  Kings,  the  First  Book  of  Chronicles,  the 
Second  Book  of  Chronicles,  the  Book  of  Ezra,  the 
Book  of  Nehemiah,  the  Book  of  Esther,  the  Book  of 
Job,  the  Psalms,  the  Proverbs,  Ecclesiastes,  or  the 
Preacher,  Canticles,  or  the  Song  of  Solomon,  Four 
Prophets  the  greater,  Twelve  Prophets  the  less. 

All  the  books  of  the  New  Testament,  as  they  are 
commonly  received,  we  do  receive  and  account 
canonical. 

VI.  Of  the  Old  Testament 

If  21.  The  Old  Testament  is  not  contrary  to  the 
New;  for  in  both  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  ever¬ 
lasting  life  is  offered  to  mankind  by  Christ,  who  is 
the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  man.  Wherefore 
they  are  not  to  be  heard  who  feign  that  the  old 
fathers  did  look  only  for  transitory  promises.  Al¬ 
though  the  law  given  from  God  by  Moses,  as  touching 
ceremonies  and  rites,  doth  not  bind  Christians,  nor 
ought  the  civil  precepts  thereof,  of  necessity  to  be 
received  in  any  commonwealth;  yet,  notwithstanding, 
no  Christian  whatsoever  is  free  from  obedience  to  the 
commandments  which  are  called  moral. 

VII.  Of  Original  or  Birth  Sin 

If  22.  Original  sin  standeth  not  in  the  following 
of  Adam,  as  the  Pelagians  do  vainly  talk,  but  it  Is 
the  corruption  of  the  nature  of  every  man  that 


14 


ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 


naturally  is  engendered  of  the  offspring  of  Adam, 
whereby  man  is  very  far  gone  from  original  right¬ 
eousness,  and  of  his  own  nature  inclined  to  evil  and 
that  continually. 

VIII.  Of  Free  Will 

If  23.  The  condition  of  man  after  the  fall  of  Adam 
is  such  that  he  cannot  turn  and  prepare  himself  by 
his  own  natural  strength  and  works  to  faith  and 
calling  upon  God;  wherefore  we  have  no  power  to 
do  good  works,  pleasing  and  acceptable  to  God,  with¬ 
out  the  grace  of  God  by  Christ  enabling  us,  that  we 
may  have  a  good  will,  and  working  with  us,  when  we 
have  that  good  will.  - 

IX.  Of  the  Justification  of  Man 

If  24.  We  are  accounted  righteous  before  God  only 
for  the  merit  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ  by 
faith,  and  not  for  our  own  works  or  deservings; 
wherefore,  that  we  are  justified  by  faith  only,  is  a 
most  wholesome  doctrine,  and  very  full  of  comfort. 

X.  Of  Good  Works 

If  25.  Although  good  works,  which  are  the  fruits 
of  faith,  and  follow  after  justification,  cannot  put 
away  our  sins  and  endure  the  severity  of  God's  judg¬ 
ments,  yet  they  are  pleasing  and  acceptable  to  God 
in  Christ,  and  spring  out  of  a  true  and  lively  faith, 
insomuch  that  by  them  a  lively  faith  may  be  as  evi¬ 
dently  known  as  a  tree  is  discerned  by  its  fruit. 

XI.  Of  Works  of  Supererogation 

26.  Voluntary  works — besides,  over  and  above 
God’s  commandments — which  are  called  works  of 
supererogation,  cannot  be  taught  without  arrogancy 
and  impiety.  For  by  them  men  do  declare  that  they 


ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 


15 


do  not  only  render  unto  God  as  much  as  they  are 
bound  to  do,  but  that  they  do  more  for  his  sake  than 
of  bounden  duty  is  required;  whereas  Christ  saith 
plainly,  “When  ye  have  done  all  that  is  commanded 
you,  say,  We  are  unprofitable  servants.” 

XII.  Of  Sin  after  Justification 

1}  27.  Not  every  sin  willingly  committed  after  justi¬ 
fication  is  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  un¬ 
pardonable.  Wherefore  the  grant  of  repentance  Is 
not  to  be  denied  to  such  as  fall  into  sin  after  justifica¬ 
tion.  After  we  have  received  the  Holy  Ghost,  we  may 
depart  from  grace  given,  and  fall  into  sin,  and  by  the 
grace  of  God  rise  again  and  amend  our  lives.  There¬ 
fore  they  are  to  be  condemned  who  say  they  can  no 
more  sin  as  long  as  they  live  here,  or  who  deny  the 
place  of  forgiveness  to  such  as  truly  repent. 

XIII.  Entire  Sanctification 

H  28.  Justified  persons,  while  they  do  not  outward¬ 
ly  commit  sin,  are  nevertheless  conscious  of  sin  still 
remaining  in  the  heart.  They  feel  a  natural  tendency 
to  evil,  a  proneness  to  depart  from  God  and  cleave  to 
the  things  of  earth.  Those  who  are  sanctified  wholly 
are  saved  from  all  inward  sin — from  evil  thoughts  and 
evil  tempers.  No  wrong  temper,  none  contrary  to 
love  remains  in  the  soul.  All  their  thoughts,  words 
and  actions  are  governed  by  pure  love. 

Entire  sanctification  takes  place  subsequently  to 
justification,  and  is  the  work  of  God  wrought  instan¬ 
taneously  upon  the  consecrated,  believing  soul.  After 
a  soul  is  cleansed  from  all  sin,  it  is  then  fully  pre¬ 
pared  to  grow  in  grace. 

XIV.  Future  Reward  and  Punishment 

1 29.  God  has  appointed  a  day  in  which  he  will 
judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  Jesus  Christ,  ac- 


16 


ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 


cording  to  the  gospel.  The  righteous  shall  have  in 
heaven  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and 
that  fadeth  not  away.  The  wicked  shall  go  away  into 
everlasting  punishment,  wThere  their  worm  dieth  not, 
and  the  fire  is  not  quenched. 

XV.  Of  Speaking  in  the  Congregation  in  such  a 
Tongue  as  the  People  Understand 

If  30.  It  is  a  thing  plainly  repugnant  to  the  word  of 
God  and  the  custom  of  the  primitive  Church,  to  have 
public  prayer  in  the  Church  or  to  minister  the  sacra¬ 
ment  in  a  tongue  not  understood  by  the  people. 

XVI.  Of  the  Church 

1f3l.  The  visible  Church  of  Christ  is  a  congrega¬ 
tion  of  pure  men,  in  which  the  pure  word  of  God  is 
preached,  and  the  sacraments  are  duly  administered, 
according  to  Christ’s  ordinance,  in  all  those  things 
that  of  necessity  are  requisite  to  the  same. 

XVII.  Of  the  Sacraments 

If  32.  Sacraments  ordained  of  Christ  are  not  only 
badges  or  tokens  of  Christian  men’s  profession,  but 
also  they  are  certain  signs  of  grace,  and  of  God’s 
good  will  toward  us,  by  the  which  he  doth  work  in¬ 
visibly  in  us,  and  doth  not  only  quicken  but  also 
strengthen  and  confirm  our  faith  in  him. 

XVIII.  Of  Baptism 

If  33.  Baptism  is  not  only  a  sign  of  profession  and 
mark  of  difference,  whereby  Christians  are  distin¬ 
guished  from  others  that  are  not  baptized;  but  it  is 
also  a  sign  of  regeneration  or  the  new  birth.  The 
baptism  of  young  children  is  to  be  retained  in  the 
church. 


ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 


17 


XIX.  Of  the  Lord's  Supper 

34.  The  Supper  of  the  Lord  is  not  merely  a  sign 
of  the  love  that  Christians  ought  to  have  among 
themselves  one  to  another,  but  rather  is  a  sacrament 
of  our  redemption  by  Christ’s  death,  insomuch  that, 
to  such  as  rightly,  worthily,  and  with  faith  receive 
the  same,  the  bread  which  we  break  is  a  partaking  of 
the  body  of  Christ;  and  likewise  the  cup  of  blessing 
is  a  partaking  of  the  blood  of  Christ. 

Transubstantiation,  or  the  change  of  the  substance 
of  bread  and  wine  in  the  Supper  of  our  Lord,  cannot 
be  proved  by  holy  writ,  but  it  is  repugnant  to  the 
plain  word  of  the  Scripture,  overthroweth  the  nature 
of  a  sacrament,  and  hath  given  occasion  to  many 
superstitions. 

The  body  of  Christ  is  given,  taken  and  eaten  in  the 
Supper,  only  after  a  heavenly  and  spiritual  manner; 
and  the  means  whereby  the  body  of  Christ  is  received 
and  eaten  in  the  Supper,  is  faith.  The  sacrament  of 
the  Lord’s  Supper  was  not  by  Christ’s  ordinance  re¬ 
served,  carried  about,  lifted  up,  or  worshiped. 

XX.  Of  the  One  Oblation  of  Christ,  Finished  upon 

the  Cross 

If  35.  The  offering  of  Christ,  once  made,  is  a  per¬ 
fect  redemption,  propitiation  and  satisfaction  for  all 
the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  both  original  and  actual; 
and  there  is  none  other  satisfaction  for  sin  but  that 
alone.  Wherefore  the  sacrifice  of  the  masses,  in  the 
which  it  is  said  that  the  priest  doth  offer  Christ  for 
the  quick  and  the  dead,  to  have  remission  of  pain  or 
guilt,  is  a  blasphemous  and  dangerous  deceit. 

XXI.  Of  the  Rites  and  Ceremonies  of  Churches 

If  36.  It  is  not  necessary  that  rites  and  ceremonies 
should  in  all  places  be  the  same,  or  exactly  alike;  for 


18 


ARTICLES  OF  RELIGION 


they  have  been  always  different,  and  may  be  changed 
according  to  the  diversity  of  countries,  times  and 
men’s  manners,  so  that  nothing  be  ordained  against 
God's  word.  Whosoever  through  his  private  judg¬ 
ment,  willingly  and  purposely  doth  openly  break  the 
rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  church  to  which  he  be¬ 
longs,  which  are  not  repugnant  to  the  word  of  God, 
and  are  ordained  and  approved  by  common  authority, 
ought  to  be  rebuked  openly,  that  others  may  fear  to 
do  the  like,  as  one  that  offendeth  against  the  common 
order  of  the  church,  and  woundeth  the  consciences  of 
the  weak  brethren.  Every  particular  church  may  or¬ 
dain.  change  or  abolish  rites  and  ceremonies  so  that 
all  things  may  be  done  to  edification. 

XXII.  Of  Christian  Men's  Goods 

If  37.  The  riches  and  goods  of  Christians  are  not 
common,  as  touching  the  right,  title  and  possession 
of  the  same,  as  some  do  falsely  boast.  Notwith¬ 
standing,  every  man  ought,  of  such  things  as  he  pos¬ 
sessed,  liberally  to  give  alms  to  the  poor  according 
to  his  ability. 

XXIII.  Of  a  Christian  Mail's  Oath 

If  38.  As  we  confess  that  vain  and  rash  swearing 
is  forbidden  Christian  men  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  James  the  apostle;  so  we  hold  that  the  Christian 
religion  doth  not  prohibit,  but  that  a  man  may  swTear 
when  the  magistrate  required  in  a  case  of  faith  and 
charity,  so  it  be  done  according  to  the  prophet’s  teach¬ 
ing,  in  justice,  judgment  and  truth. 


Note  :  This  article  shall  not  deprive  of  membership 
in  our  church  those  who  have  conscientious  scruples 
against  taking  an  oath. 


DIVISION  II 


GENERAL  RULES 


Nature,  Design  and  General  Rules  of  Our  United 

Societies* 

H  39.  In  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1739,  eight  or 
ten  persons  came  to  Mr.  Wesley  in  London,  who  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  and  earnestly 
groaning  for  redemption.  They  desired,  as  did  two 
or  three  more  the  next  day,  that  he  wrnuld  spend  some 
time  with  them  in  prayer,  and  advise  them  how  to 
flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  which  they  saw  contin¬ 
ually  hanging  over  their  heads.  That  he  might  have 
more  time  for  this  great  work,  he  appointed  a  day 
when  they  might  all  come  together,  which,  thence¬ 
forward,  they  did  every  week,  namely,  on  Thursday, 
in  the  evening.  For  these  and  as  many  more  as  de¬ 
sired  to  join  with  them,  for  their  number  increased 
daily,  he  gave  those  advices  from  time  to  time  which 
he  judged  most  needful  for  them,  and  they  always 
concluded  their  meetings  with  prayer  suited  to  their 
several  necessities. 

Tf  40.  This  was  the  rise  of  the  “United  Society,” 


*  The  United  Societies,  founded  in  the  United  States 
by  the  Apostolic  Asbury,  were  organized  into  the  Meth¬ 
odist  Episcopal  Church  in  1784.  The  terms  “society” 
and  “societies”  have  always  been  retained  in  the  Meth¬ 
odist  Discipline,  however,  being  used  in  the  sense  of 
church  and  churches.  These  terms  have  also  always 
been  used  with  the  same  signification  in  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  Discipline. — Editors  of  the  Discipline  of  1911. 


19 


20 


GENERAL  RULES 


first  in  Europe,  and  then  in  America.  Such  a  society 
is  no  other  than  “a  company  of  men  having  the  form 
and  seeking  the  power  of  godliness,  united  in  order  to 
pray  together,  to  receive  the  word  of  exhortation, 
and  to  watch  over  one  another  in  love,  that  they  may 
help  each  other  to  work  out  their  salvation.” 

1141.  That  it  may  be  the  more  easily  discerned 
whether  they  are  indeed  working  out  their  own  sal¬ 
vation,  each  society  is  divided  into  smaller  companies, 
called  classes,  according  to  their  respective  places 
of  abode.  There  are  about  twelve  persons  in  a  class, 
one  of  whom  is  styled  the  leader.  It  is  his  duty, 

I.  To  see  each  person  in  his  class  once  a  week,  at 
least,  in  order, 

1.  To  inquire  how  their  souls  prosper. 

2.  To  advise,  reprove,  comfort,  or  exhort,  as  oc¬ 
casion  may  require. 

3.  To  receive  what  they  are  willing  to  give  toward 
the  relief  of  the  preacher,  the  church  and  the  poor.* 

II.  To  meet  the  ministers  and  the  stewards  of  the 
circuit,  in  order, 

1.  To  inform  the  minister  of  any  who  are  sick,  or 
of  any  who  walk  disorderly,  and  will  not  be  reproved. 

2.  To  pay  the  stewards  what  they  have  received 
of  their  several  classes  during  the  week. 

If  42.  There  is  only  one  condition  previously  re¬ 
quired  of  those  who  desire  admission  into  these  so¬ 
cieties, — “a  desire  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and 
to  be  saved  from  their  sins.”  But  wherever  this  is 
really  fixed  in  the  soul,  it  will  be  shown  by  its  fruits. 

If  43.  It  is  therefore  expected  of  all  who  continue 
therein,  that  they  should  continue  to  evidence  their 
desire  of  salvation, 


*  This  part  refers  to  towns  and  cities,  where  the  poor 
are  generally  numerous,  and  church  expenses  are  con¬ 
siderable. 


GENERAL  RULES 


21 


First,  by  doing  no  harm,  by  avoiding  evil  of  every 
kind,  especially  that  which  is  most  generally  prac¬ 
tised;  such  as, 

The  taking  of  the  name  of  God  in  vain. 

The  profaning  the  day  of  the  Lord,  either  by  doing 
ordinary  work  therein,  or  by  buying  or  selling. 

Drunkenness,  buying  or  selling  spirituous  liquors; 
or  drinking  them,  unless  in  cases  of  extreme  necessity. 

The  buying,  selling,  or  holding  of  a  human  being  as 
a  slave. 

Fighting,  quarreling,  brawling,  brother  going  to 
law  with  brother;  returning  evil  for  evil,  or  railing 
for  railing;  the  using  many  words  in  buying  or  selling. 

The  buying  or  selling  goods  that  have  not  paid  the 
duty. 

The  giving  or  taking  things  on  usury — that  is,  un¬ 
lawful  interest. 

Uncharitable  or  unprofitable  conversation,  particu¬ 
larly  speaking  evil  of  magistrates  or  ministers. 

Doing  to  others  as  we  would  not  they  should  do 
unto  us. 

Doing  what  we  know  is  not  for  the  glory  of  God;  as, 

Belonging  to  secret  societies. 

The  putting  on  of  gold  or  costly  apparel. 

The  taking  of  such  diversions  as  cannot  be  used 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Singing  those  songs  or  reading  those  books  which 
do  not  tend  to  the  knowledge  or  love  of  God. 

Softness  or  needless  self-indulgence,  especially 
snuffing,  chewing,  smoking,  growing,  manufacturing 
or  selling  tobacco,  or  the  habitual  use  of  opiates. 

Laying  up  treasure  upon  earth. 

Borrowing  without  a  probability  of  paying;  or  tak¬ 
ing  up  goods  without  a  probability  of  paying  for  them. 

If  44.  It  is  expected  of  all  who  continue  in  these 
’societies,  that  they  should  continue  to  evidence  their 
desire  of  salvation, 


22 


GENERAL  RULES 


Second,  by  doing  good,  by  being  in  every  kind  merci¬ 
ful  after  their  power,  as  they  have  opportunity,  doing 
good  of  every  possible  sort  and  as  far  as  possible  to 
all  men. 

To  their  bodies,  of  the  ability  which  God  givetli, 
by  giving  food  to  the  hungry,  by  clothing  the  naked, 
by  visiting  or  helping  those  who  are  sick  or  in  prison. 

To  their  souls,  by  instructing,  reproving,  or  ex¬ 
horting  all  with  whom  they  have  any  intercourse, 
trampling  under  foot  that  enthusiastic  doctrine,  that 
“we  are  not  to  do  good  unless  our  hearts  be  free  to 
do  it.” 

By  doing  good,  especially  to  those  who  are  of  the 
household  of  faith,  or  groaning  so  to  be;  employing 
them  preferably  to  others,  buying  of  one  another, 
helping  one  another  in  business;  and  so  much  the  more, 
because  the  world  will  love  its  own,  and  them  only. 

By  all  possible  diligence  and  frugality,  that  the 
gospel  be  not  blamed. 

By  running  with  patience  the  race  which  is  set 
before  them,  denying  themselves  and  taking  up  theii 
cross  daily;  submitting  to  bear  the  reproach  of  Christ 
to  be  as  the  filth  and  offscouring  of  the  world;  ant 
looking  that  men  should  say  all  manner  of  evil  oj 
them  falsely  for  the  Lord’s  sake. 

If  45.  It  is  expected  of  all  who  desire  to  continm 
in  these  societies,  that  they  should  continue  to  evi 
dence  their  desire  for  salvation. 

Third,  By  attending  upon  all  the  ordinances  of  God 
such  are, 

The  public  worship  of  God; 

The  ministry  of  the  word,  either  read,  or  expounded 

The  Supper  of  the  Lord; 

Family  and  private  prayer; 

Searching  the  Scriptures; 

Fasting  or  abstinence. 

If  46.  These  are  the  general  rules  of  our  societies 


GENERAL  RULES 


23 


all  of  which  we  are  taught  of  God  to  observe,  even 
in  his  written  word,  which  is  the  only  rule,  and  the 
sufficient  rule  both  of  our  faith  and  practise;  and  all 
these  we  know  the  Spirit  writes  on  truly  awakened 
hearts.  If  there  be  any  among  us  who  observe  them 
not,  who  habitually  break  any  of  them,  let  it  be  known 
unto  them  who  watch  over  that  soul  as  they  who 
must  give  an  account.  We  will  admonish  him  of  the 
error  of  his  way.  We  will  bear  with  him  for  a  sea¬ 
son.  But  if  then  he  repent  not,  he  hath  no  more  a 
place  among  us.  We  have  delivered  our  souls. 


DIVISION  III 


ARTICLES  OF  ORGANIZATION  AND 
GOVERNMENT 

I.  Pastoral  Charges,  Quarterly  and  Annual 
Conferences 

Article  I.  Pastoral  Charges 

II  47.  The  lay  membership  of  the  church  shall  be 
divided  into  local  societies,  one  or  more  of  which 
shall  constitute  a  pastoral  charge. 

Article  II.  Districts  and  Quarterly  Conferences 

H  48.  The  pastoral  charges  Embraced  within  each 
annual  conference  shall  be  grouped  into  districts,  and 
a  quarterly  conference  shall  be  organized  in  each  dis¬ 
trict,  composed  of  such  official  members  of  the  several 
pastoral  charges  and  invested  with  such  powers  as 
the  general  conference  shall  direct. 

Article  III.  Annual  Conferences 

H  49.  The  general  conference  shall  organize  the 
work  at  large  into  annual  conferences,  of  which  the 
(preachers  (not  being  members  of  any  local  societies) 
shall  be  permanent  members;  and  to  which,  at  each 
session,  one  lay  delegate  shall  be  admitted  from  each 
pastoral  charge,  and  in  case  there  be  more  than  one 


24 


ORGANIZATION  AND  GOVERNMENT 


25 


preacher  in  full  membership  appointed  to  a  pastoral 
charge,  such  pastoral  charge  shall  be  entitled  to  one 
additional  lay  delegate  for  every  such  additional 
preacher. 


I!.  The  General  Conference 

Article  I.  Of  Whom  Composed 

ft  50.  The  general  conference  shall  be  composed  of 
the  bishops  and  ministerial  and  lay  delegates,  to  be 
chosen  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Article  II.  Ministerial  Delegates 

ft  51.  1.  Each  annual  conference  shall  be  entitled 

to  one  ministerial  delegate  in  the  general  conference; 
and  whenever  an  annual  conference  shall  reach  an 
aggregate  of  eight  hundred  full  members,  it  shall  be 
entitled  to  two  ministerial  delegates,  and  to  an  addi¬ 
tional  ministerial  delegate  for  every  subsequent  six 
hundred  full  members,  provided,  however,  that  in  no 
case  shall  a  preacher  be  counted  more  than  once  in 
the  election  of  delegates. 

2.  The  ministerial  delegates  shall  be  elected  by  the 
ministers  of  the  annual  conference  by  ballot.  Such 
delegates  shall  be  elders,  and  at  the  time  of  their 
election,  as  also  at  the  time  of  the  general  conference, 
shall  be  members  of  the  annual  conference  which 
elected  them.* 

Article  III.  Lay  Delegates 

ft  52.  1.  Each  annual  conference  shall  be  entitled 

to  the  same  number  of  lay  as  of  ministerial  delegates 
in  the  general  conference. 

2.  Lay  delegates  to  the  general  conference  shall 
be  elected  by  the  lay  delegates  of  the  annual  confer- 


*  See  paragraph  '87. 


26 


ORGANIZATION  AND  GOVERNMENT 


ences  they  are  respectively  to  represent.  They  shall 
be  elected  by  ballot,  from  the  members  of  the  church 
in  full  relation  within  the  bounds  of  the  annual 
conferences  to  which  they  respectively  belong,  and 
must  be  members  of  the  church  within  the  conference 
which  elected  them  at  the  time  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference.* 


Article  IV.  Credentials 

f  53.  The  secretaries  of  the  several  annual  con¬ 
ferences  shall  furnish  certificates  of  election  to  the 
delegates  severally,  signed  by  the  president  and  secre¬ 
tary  of  each  annual  conference,  as  the  credentials 
upon  which  they  are  to  be  admitted  to  the  general 
conference. 

Article  V.  Sessions 

U  54.  1.  The  general  conference  shall  meet  on 

the  second  Wednesday  in  June,  in  every  fourth  year 
from  the  year  1903  (which  was  the  forty-first  year 
of  its  existence  as  a  delegated  general  conference,  it 
having  previously  met  every  fourth  year  from  1S62, 
in  October,  and  the  change  having  been  made  by  the 
general  conference  of  1S9S),  and  at  such  time  and 
place  as  shall  have  been  determined  by  the  preceding 
general  conference,  or  by  the  executive  committee, 
which  shall  also  have  the  power,  in  case  of  emer¬ 
gency,  to  change  the  time  and  place  for  the  meeting 
of  the  general  conference. 

2.  The  bishop  or  bishops,  or  if  there  be  none,  the 
secretary  of  the  general  conference,  shall,  whenever 
two-thirds  of  the  annual  conferences  shall  demand  it, 
call  an  extra  session  of  the  general  conference,  fixing 
the  date  thereof,  and  the  time  of  assembling,  later 


* 


See  paragraph  87. 


ORGANIZATION  AND  GOVERNMENT 


27 


than  the  next  ensuing  session  of  each  of  the  annual 
conferences. 

Article  VI.  Presiding  Officers 
55.  The  general  conference  shall  elect,  by  ballot, 
one  or  more  traveling  elders  to  the  office  of  bishop; 
and  the  bishops  shall  preside  at  various  sittings  of 
the  general  conference  in  such  order  as  they  may  de¬ 
termine;  but  in  case  no  bishop  be  present,  the  general 
conference  shall  elect,  by  ballot,,  an  elder  as  presi¬ 
dent  pro  tern.  In  case  of  the  election  of  a  new 
bishop  or  bishops  the  term  of  office  of  such  bishop  or 
bishops  shalj.  begin  at  the  close  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference  session  at  which  they  were  elected. 

Article  VII.  Missionary  Bishop 
IT  56.  The  general  conference  may  elect  a  mission¬ 
ary  bishop  or  bishops,  whose  duties  and  official  re¬ 
lation  shall  be  confined  to  the  field  to  which  they  are 
respectively  elected. 

Article  VIII.  Other  Officers 
ft  57.  1.  The  general  conference  shall  elect,  by 

ballot,  a  secretary,  a  treasurer,  an  editor  of  the  Free 
Methodist,  an  editor  of  our  Sunday-school  litera¬ 
ture,  a  publishing  agent,  a  missionary  secretary,  an 
educational  secretary,  the  trustees  of  the  general 
conference  as  required  by  the  articles  of  incorpora¬ 
tion,  and  such  other  general  officers  as  it  shall  de¬ 
cide  upon.  '  The  secretary  of  the  general  conference 
shall  continue  in  office  until  his  successor  is  elected, 
and  shall  be  the  custodian  of  the  general  conference 
records,  journal  and  seal. 

2.  The  general  conference  may  elect,  by  ballot, 
one  or  more  general  conference  evangelists. 


28 


ORGANIZATION  AND  GOVERNMENT 


Article  IX.  Executive  Committee  and  Missionary 

Board 

If  58.  The  general  conference  shall  also  elect  one 
traveling  elder  and  one  lay  member  from  each  of  the 
general  conference  districts,  who  were  members  of 
the  general  conference  which  elected  them;  and  who, 
with  the  bishops,  shall  constitute  the  executive  com¬ 
mittee;  and  one  traveling  elder  and  one  lay  member 
from  each  of  the  general  conference  districts  to  act 
on  the  missionary  board.  The  membership  of  the  gen¬ 
eral  missionary  board  shall  not  be  restricted  to  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  general  conference  electing  them. 

Article  X.  Quorum 

59.  At  all  times  when  the  general  conference  is 
in  session,  it  shall  require  two-thirds  of  all  the  dele¬ 
gates  elected  by  the  annual  conferences  to  form  a 
quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller  number  may 
adjourn  from  time  to  time,  until  a  quorum  is  obtained. 

Article  XI.  Toting 

II  60.  The  members  of  the  general  conference  shall 
deliberate  and  vote  as  one  body;  nevertheless,  upon 
the  call  of  a  majority  of  the  members  present  and 
voting,  the  house  shall  divide;  and  it  shall  require  a 
majority  of  the  ministerial  and  of  the  lay  delegates  to 
pass  any  vote,  or  transact  any  business,  provided, 
nevertheless,  that  for  changes  of  th^  constitution,  a 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  general  conference  shall 
be  sufficient,  as  provided  for  in  article  XIII. 

Article  XII.  Powers  and  Restrictions 

• 

If  61.  The  general  conference  shall  have  full  power 
to  make  rules  and  regulations  for  the  Free  Methodist 
church,  under  the  following  limitations  and  restric¬ 
tions  : 


ORGANIZATION  AND  GOVERNMENT 


29 


1.  The  general  conference  shall  not  revoke,  alter, 
or  change  our  articles  of  religion,  or  the  general 
rules  of  the  united  societies,  or  establish  any  stand¬ 
ards  or  rules  of  doctrine  contrary  to  our  present 
existing  and  established  standards  of  doctrine. 

2.  It  shall  not  change  or  alter  any  part  or  rule  of 
our  government,  so  as  to  do  away  with  lay  delegation, 
or  an  itinerant  ministry,  or  the  general  superin¬ 
tendency,  or  the  free-seat  system  in  our  churches. 

3.  It  shall  not  have  power  to  deprive  our  preach¬ 
ers  or  members  of  the  right  of  trial  by  an  impartial 
committee,  or  of  the  right  of  an  appeal. 

Article  XIII.  Amendments 

Tf  62.  The  concurrent  recommendation  of  three- 
fourths  of  all  the  members  of  the  several  annual  con¬ 
ferences,  who  shall  be  present  and  vote  on  such  recom¬ 
mendation,  shall  suffice  to  authorize  the  next  ensuing 
general  conference,  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  to  alter 
any  of  the  foregoing  restrictive  rules,  except  the 
last;  and  also  whenever  such  alteration,  or  altera¬ 
tions,  shall  have  been  recommended  first  by  a  two- 
thirds  vote  of  flie  general  conference,  then  so  soon 
as  three-fourths  of  the  members  of  the  several  an¬ 
nual  conferences,  who  were  present  and  voted  on 
such  recommendation,  or  recommendations,  shall  have 
concurred  therein,  such  alteration,  or  alterations,  shall 
take  effect. 


PART  II 
THE  CHURCH 


CHAPTERS 

I.  SPECIAL  ADVICES 

II.  MEMBERSHIP 

III.  WORSHIP 


CHAPTER  I 


SPECIAL  ADVICES 
I.  Temperance 

f  63.  A  spirit  of  self-denial  is  indispensable  to 
the  Christian  character.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
crime  and  pauperism  of  the  country  is  caused  by 
strong  drink.  The  Spirit  of  Christ  never  leads  one  to 
countenance  the  use  or  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor  as 
a  beverage. 

If  64.  The  stewards  on  all  our  circuits  shall  make 
provision  to  use  the  unfermented  juice  of  the  grape 
in  celebrating  the  Lord’s  Supper.  In  no  case  shall 
intoxicating  wine  be  used  for  this  purpose. 

Tf  65.  Every  man  of  God  should  break  away  from 
party  trammels,  and  never  knowingly  give  bis  vote 
or  influence  to  elect  any  man  to  office  who  will  use 
his  official  or  personal  influence  to  legalize  the  traffic 
in  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage.  As  Christians 
we  are  bound  to  do  all  we  can  to  prohibit  by  law  this 
nefarious  traffic. 

II.  Marriage  and  Divorce 

^  66.  We  do  not  prohibit  our  people  from  mar¬ 
rying  persons  who  are  not  members  of  our  church, 
provided  such  persons  give  evidence  of  being  con¬ 
verted  to  God;  but  we  are  determined  to  discourage 
their  marrying  those  who  do  not  come  up  to  this 
standard. 


33 


31 


SPECIAL  ADVICES 


If  67.  Some  of  our  members  have  married  with 
unsaved  persons.  This  has  produced  bad  effects. 
They  have  either  been  hindered  for  life  or  have 
turned  back  to  perdition.  To  discourage  such  mar¬ 
riages:  1.  Every  preacher  shall  publicly  enforce  the 
apostle’s  command,  “Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  to¬ 
gether  with  unbelievers”  (2  Corinthians  6:  14).  2. 

All  should  be  exhorted  never  to  marry  without  ad¬ 
vising  with  some  of  the  more  serious  of  their  brethren. 

If  68.  In  general  a  woman  ought  not  to  marry  with¬ 
out  the  consent  of  her  parents.  Yet  there  may  be 
exceptions.  For  if,  (1)  A  woman  believes  it  to  be  her 
duty  to  marry,  and  if,  (2)  Her  parents  absolutely 
refuse  to  let  her  marry  any  Christian,  then  she  may, 
nay,  ought  to  marry  without  their  consent. 

If  69.  We  recognize  no  other  ground  for  divorce 
than  that  permitted  in  the  word  of  God  (Matt.  5:32; 
Mark  10:  11,  12).  Any  person  guilty  of  a  violation 
of  this  law  shall  have  no  place  among  us. 

If  70.  Our  preachers  shall  not  officiate  at  the  mar¬ 
riage  of  any  person  who  is  under  eighteen  years  of 
age,  unless  the  parents  or  guardians  be  present  or 
have  given  written  consent,  and  unless  at  least  two 
witnesses,  knowing  the  contracting  parties,  be  present. 
They  shall  in  every  case  refuse  to  officiate  at  the  mar¬ 
riage  of  divorced  parties,  unless  furnished  with  satis¬ 
factory  evidence  that  the  case  is  such  as  would  not 
conflict  with  the  law  of  divorce  recognized  in  the  pre¬ 
ceding  paragraph. 


III.  Dress 

^  71.  We  insist  on  the  rules  concerning  dress. 
This  is  no  time  to  give  encouragement  to  superfluity 
of  apparel.  Therefore,  receive  none  into  the  church 
till  they  have  left  off  superfluous  ornaments.  In 
order  to  this:  1.  Every  one  who  has  charge  of  a  cir- 


SECRET  SOCIETIES 


35 


cuit  shall  read  Mr.  Wesley’s  sermon  on  dress  at  least 
once  a  year  in  every  society.  2.  In  visiting  the  classes 
be  very  mild  but  very  strict.  3.  xillow  of  no  exempt 
case;  better  one  suffer  than  many.  See  par.  475. 

IV.  Secret  Societies 

U  72.  1.  Voluntary  associations  are  not  necessarily 

sinful  because  they  are  secret.  But  secrecy  is  always 
a  ground  of  suspicion.  Evil  works  instinctively  in¬ 
cline  to  darkness.  Good  works  grow  up  in  light.  God 
commands  us  to  let  our  light  shine.  Even  a  good 
cause  under  the  shadow  of  secrecy  invalidates  its 
claim  to  the  confidence  of  open  and  honest  men.  Grace 
and  guile  can  have  no  affinity.  All  secrets  necessary 
to  be  kept  can  be  kept  without  an  oath.  A  bad  insti¬ 
tution  should  not,  and  a  good  one  need  not,  be  secret. 
Philanthropic  associations  claiming  our  cooperation  on 
Christian  grounds,  must  do  so  with  open  face.  They 
must  lift  the  veil  while  demanding  our  salutation,  or 
we  cannot  salute  them  by  the  way.  Therefore,  all 
secret  societies  are  to  be  eschewed. 

2.  Any  society  requiring  an  oath,  affirmation,  or 
promise  of  secrecy,  as  a  condition  of  membership,  is 
held  to  be  a  secret  society;  and  any  member  joining 
or  continuing  in  such,  violates  his  covenant  obliga¬ 
tions,  and  shall  in  due  form  be  excluded  from  the 
church;  and  the  preacher  shall  report  that  he  is  ex¬ 
cluded  for  infraction  of  our  rules  and  regulations. 

^  73.  1.  We  would  not  oppose  the  open  and  honest 

organization  of  the  laboring  classes  seeking  in  a 
proper  wray  their  betterment  without  injuring  others 
or  violating  the  inherent  rights  of  any,  but  we  are 
opposed  to  the  element  of  pledged  or  oath-bound 
secrecy,  the  policy  of  coercion,  the  practise  of  law¬ 
lessness,  or  any  other  evil  in  such  organizations,  and 
we  prohibit  our  members  from  membership  in  labor 
unions  or  other  societies  where  such  evils  exist.  We 


36 


SPECIAL  ADVICES 


hold  that  labor  unions  as  now  generally  constituted 
are  secret  societies  and  that  membership  therein  is 
a  bar  to  membership  in  the  church. 


CHAPTER  IT 


MEMBERSH IP 

I.  Reception  on  Probation 

If  74.  None  shall  be  admitted  on  probation  until 
they  give  evidence  of  a  desire  to  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come,  by  bringing  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance, 
and  give  affirmative  answers  to  the  following  ques¬ 
tions:  1.  Have  you  the  assurance  of  sins  forgiven? 
2.  Do  you  consent  to  be  governed  by  our  general 
rules? 


II.  Admission  into  Full  Membership 

If  75.  None  shall  be  received  into  full  membership 
unless  they  give  evidence  of  a  renewed  heart  by  living 
up  to  the  requirements  of  the  general  rules,  and  ha\e 
met  in  class  six  months  on  probation,  have  been  bap¬ 
tized,*  have,  wherever  practicable,  been  recommended 
by  the  official  members  of  the  society,  and  give  satis¬ 
factory  answers  to  the  following  questions,  which 
shall  be  proposed  to  them  before  the  society: 

1.  Have  you  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  that  you 
are  a  child  of  God? 

2.  Have  you  that  perfect  love  which  casteth  out 
fear? 

(If  the  candidate  shall  answrer  no,  then  this  ques- 


*  Persons  baptized  in  infancy  must  publicly  assent  to 
the  baptismal  covenant. 


37 


38 


MEMBERSHIP 


tion  shall  be  asked,  Will  you  diligently  seek  until 
you  obtain  it?) 

3.  Is  it  your  purpose  to  devote  yourself  the  re¬ 
mainder  of  your  life  wholly  to  the  service  of  God, 
doing  good  to  your  fellow  men,  and  working  out  your 
own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling? 

4.  Will  you  forever  lay  aside  all  superfluous  or¬ 
naments,  and  adorn  yourself  in  modest  apparel,  not 
with  gold,  nor  pearls,  nor  costly  arrayt  but,  which  be- 
cometh  those  professing  godliness,  with  good  works? 

5.  Will  you  abstain  from  connection  with  all  secret 
societies,  keeping  yourself  free  to  follow  the  will  of 
the  Lord  in  all  things? 

6.  Do  you  subscribe  to  our  articles  of  religion,  our 
general  rules,  and  our  Discipline,  and  are  you  willing 
to  be  governed  by  the  same? 

7.  Have  you  Christian  fellowship  and  love  for  the 
members  of  this  society,  and  will  you  assist  them,  as 
God  shall  give  you  ability,  in  carrying  on  the  work 
of  the  Lord? 

H  76.  The  person  giving  affirmative  answers  to  the 
above  questions  shall,  with  the  consent  of  three- 
fourths  of  all  the  members  present  at  a  society  meet¬ 
ing,  be  admitted  to  all  the  privileges  of  a  member. 
Any  person  in  good  standing  in  any  evangelical  church 
may  be  received  into  full  membership  upon  his  meet¬ 
ing  the  other  requirements  of  this  chapter,  without 
his  having  been  on  probation  in  our  church. 

If  77.  Where  societies  already  organized,  or  sev¬ 
eral  persons,  design  to  unite  with  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church  and  form  a  new  society,  they  should 
adopt  the  Discipline  as  a  whole,  and  then  each  person 
should  be  admitted  in  his  Individual  capacity  by  an¬ 
swering  the  questions  in  paragraph  75  and  by  the  con¬ 
sent  of  three-fourths  of  the  persons  forming  such 
society. 

^  78.  Any  member  who  withdraws  from  the  church, 


MEMBERSHIP 


39 


and  against  whom  there  were  no  complaints  pending 
at  the  time,  may,  by  a  recommendation  of  the  official 
board,  and  by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  the  society  from 
which  he  or  she  withdrew,  be  reinstated  to  full 
membership  without  being  required  to  serve  on  proba¬ 
tion,  providing  the  one  wishing  to  reunite  shall  make 
request  to  the  pastor  of  the  society  within  one  year 
from  the  date  of  withdrawal. 

III.  Transfer  of  Membership  by  Certificate 

1  79.  1.  None  are  to  remove  from  one  circuit  to 

another  without  a  certificate  from  the  preacher  in 
charge,  in  these  words: 

“A.  B.,  the  bearer,  wishing  to  remove  from  this 
society,  we  hereby  certify  that  . is  an  accept¬ 
able  member  of  the  Fr^?e  Methodist  Church  in . 

and  cordially  commend  . to  the  Free  Methodist 

Church  in  . .  or  in  any  other  place.  When 

admitted  to  another  society  ....  membership  in  this 
society  shall  cease.  This  certificate  is  good  for  one 
year  only,  unless  renewed.”*  Without  such  a  cer¬ 
tificate,  they  will  not  be  received  into  the  church  in 
other  places. 

When  a  pastor  gives  a  certificate  of  membership 
with'  a  view  to  transferring  a  member  to  another 
society,  he  shall  at  once  notify  the  pastor  of  the 
society  to  which  the  certificate  is  addressed  that  such 
certificate  has  been  given. 

2.  If  any  of  our  members  live  at  a  great  distance 
from  the  class  to  which  they  belong  and  are  unable 
to  attend,  they  shall,  once  a  quarter,  send  to  the 
leader  or  preacher  their  testimony  as  to  their  religious 
state.  If  they  fail  to  do  this,  or  to  pay  their  confer- 


*  The  person  holding  this  certificate  remains  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  society  by  which  it  was  given  until  the  cer¬ 
tificate  has  been  deposited  in  another  society. 


40 


MEMBERSHIP 


ence  claims,  they  may  at  the  end  of  one  year  be  re¬ 
corded  on  the  register  as  “Removed  without  a  letter.” 
If  such  persons  afterwards  claim  their  membership, 
the  official  board  may  restore  it.  A  member  holding  a 
certificate  shall  be  amenable  to  the  circuit  from  which 
the  certificate  was  taken  until  the  certificate  is  re¬ 
ceived  in  another  place.  After  the  certificate  has 
been  handed  in  on  another  circuit,  he  shall  be  re¬ 
sponsible  for  his  conduct  during  the  time  he  held  the 
certificate  to  the  society  which  he  shall  have  joined. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  preacher  receiving  such 
certificate  of  membership  to  notify  the  preacher  in 
charge  of  the  circuit  from  which  the  certificate  was 
given,  in  these  words:  “You  are  hereby  notified  that 
A.  B.  has  been  duly  enrolled  as  a  member  of  this 
church  upon  a  certificate  issued  from  the  church  of 
which  you  are  a  pastor.  Signed . ” 

3.  Every  member  of  our  church  in  good  stand¬ 
ing  removing  to  another  circuit,  or  desirous  of  unit¬ 
ing  with  any  other  evangelical  church,  is  entitled  to 
a  certificate  of  his  good  standing,  and  upon  request 
it  shall  be  given  him. 

4.  No  person  who  wishes  to  leave  our  church, 
without  uniting  with  any  other  society  or  church,  is 
entitled  to  a  certificate  of  membership. 

5.  When  a  certificate  is  given  to  a  member  of  our 
church  who  wishes  to  unite  with  some  other  evan¬ 
gelical  denomination,  the  certificate  shall  read  as  fol¬ 
lows:  “A.  B.,  the  bearer,  wishing  to  become  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  another  evangelical  church,  we  hereby  certify 
that  ....  has  been  an  acceptable  member  of  the  Free 
Methodist  Church,  and  cordially  commend  ....  to 
the  fellowship  of  any  such  church  with  which  .... 
may  desire  to  unite.  H  .  .  .  .  membership  in  the  Free 
Methodist  Church  ceases  when  this  certificate  is 
given.” 


CHAPTER  III 


WORSHIP 

I.  Order  of  Public  Worship 

If  80.  For  the  establishment  of  uniformity  in  public 
worship  among  us  on  the  Lord's  day:  1.  The  morning 
and  afternoon  service  shall  consist  of  singing,  prayer, 
reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  preaching.  2.  The 
evening  service  shall  consist  of  singing,  prayer  and 
preaching.  3.  On  the  days  of  administering  the 
Lord’s  Supper,  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
morning  service  may  be  omitted.  4.  In  administer¬ 
ing  the  ordinances  and  in  the  burial  of  the  dead,  we 
recommend  that  the  form  of  the  Discipline  be  used. 
We  advise  that  the  Lord’s  prayer  also  be  used  on 
occasions  of  public  worship  in  concluding  the  first 
prayer,  and  the  apostolic  benediction  in  dismissing  the 
congregation;  also  that  the  official  members  of  each 
society  appoint  some  qualified  person  to  lead  the  sing¬ 
ing  at  the  morning  and  evening  services.  5.  The 
preachers  should  join  as  one  man  and  enlarge  on 
the  impropriety  of  irreverent  and  secular  conversa¬ 
tion  before  and  after  service,  and  strongly  exhort 
those  who  are  concerned  to  do  it  no  more.  If  the 
people  assemble  before  the  hour  of  service,  or  remain 
after  it,  let  the  time  be  improved  in  singing,  prayer 
and  testimony. 

II.  Singing 

^[81.  We  should  guard  against  formality  in  sing¬ 
ing.  Therefore, 


41 


42 


WORSHIP 


1.  Choose  such  hymns  as  are  proper  for  the  oc¬ 
casion,  and  do  not  sing  too  much  at  once — seldom  more 
than  four  or  five  stanzas. 

2.  Have  the  tune  suited  to  the  sentiment,  and  do 
not  suffer  the  people  to  sing  too  slow. 

3.  In  every  society  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
preacher  in  charge  to  see  that  due  attention  be  given 
to  the  cultivation  of  vocal  and  sacred  music. 

4.  If  he,  himself,  cannot  sing,  let  one  or  two  be 
chosen  in  each  society  to  lead  the  singing. 

5.  As  singing  is  a  part  of  divine  worship,  in  which 
all  ought  to  unite,  therefore  exhort  every  person  in 
the  congregation  to  sing,  not  one  in  ten  only. 

6.  In  no  case  let  there  be  instrumental  music  or 
choir  singing  in  our  public  worship. 

7.  Let  the  preacher  in  charge  see  that  in  all  cases 
the  Free  Methodist  Hymnal  be  used  in  the  regular 
services. 


III.  Love- Feasts 

If  82.  A  love-feast  shall  be  held  on  each  circuit 
at  least  once  in  three  months. 

IV.  Classes  and  Class  Meetings 

If  83.  The  chapter  on  general  rules  says  of  those 
who  compose  our  societies:  That  it  may  he  the  more 
easily  discerned  whether  they  are  indeed  working 
out  their  own  salvation,  each  society  is  divided  into 
smaller  companies,  called  classes,  according  to  theii 
respective  places  of  abode.  There  are  about  twelve 
persons  in  a  class,  one  of  whom  is  styled  the  leader. 
It  is  his  duty, 

1.  To  see  each  person  in  his  class  once  a  week  at 
least;  in  order,  (1)  To  inquire  how  their  souls  prosper. 
(2)  To  advise,  reprove,  comfort,  or  -exhort,  as  oc¬ 
casion  may  require.  (3)  To  receive  what  each  is 


WORSHIP 


43 


willing  to  give  toward  the  relief  of  the  preacher, 
church  and  poor.  2.  To  meet  the  ministers  and 
stewards  of  the  circuit  in  order,  (1)  To  inform  the 
minister  of  any  that  are  sick,  or  of  any  that  walk 
disorderly,  and  will  not  be  reproved.  (2)  To  pay  the 
stewards  what  they  have  received  of  their  several 
classes  during  the  week. 

3.  The  class  meeting  shall  be  separate  and  dis¬ 
tinct  from  the  common  testimony  meeting,  and  shall 
be  held  whenever  practicable  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

tf  84.  There  shall  be  a  general  class  meeting  held 
in  each  society  the  first  Sabbath  in  every  month. 

85.  When  any  member  of  our  church  wilfully 
and  repeatedly  neglects  to  meet  his  class,  the 
preacher  in  charge,  his  assistant,  or  the  leader  should 
visit  him,  whenever  it  is  practicable,  and  explain  to 
him  the  consequences  if  he  continues  to  neglect, 
namely,  censure,  suspension,  and  finally,  expulsion.  If 
he  does  not  amend  he  should  be  brought  to  trial  for 
neglect  of  duty. 


PART  III 

OFFICIAL  BODIES 


CHAPTERS 


I.  THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 

II.  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

III.  THE  ANNUAL  CONFERENCES 

IV.  THE  QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE 

V.  THE  OFFICIAL  BOARD 

VI.  THE  CIRCUIT  MEETING 

VII.  THE  SOCIETY  MEETING 


CHAPTER  I 


THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 


[If  86.  It  is  desired  that  all  things  be  considered  on 
these  occasions  as  in  the  immediate  presence  of  God ; 
that  every  person  speak  freely  whatever  is  in  his  heart. 
While  we  are  conversing,  let  us  have  an  especial  care 
to  set  God  always  before  us.  In  the  intermediate 
hours,  let  us  redeem  all  the  time  we  can  for  private 
exercises.  Therein  let  us  give  ourselves  to  prayer  for 
one  another,  and  for  a  blessing  on  our  labors.] 

ft  87.  The  general  conference  shall  be  composed 
of  the  bishops  and  an  equal  number  of  ministerial 
and  lay  delegates  belonging  to  the  Free  Methodist 
church,  to  be  elected  by  the  annual  conferences,  at 
their  respective  sessions  next  preceding  the  session 
of  the  general  conference,  except  that  conferences 
held  within  three  months  of  the  general  conference 
may  elect  their  delegates  the  year  before. 

IT  88.  Each  annual  conference  shall  be  entitled  to 
one  ministerial  and  one  lay  delegate  in  the  general 
conference;  and  whenever  an  annual  conference  shall 
reach  an  aggregate  membership  of  eight  hundred  in 
full  relation  it  shall  be  entitled  to  two  ministerial 
and  two  lay  delegates,  and  one  additional  delegate  of 
each  kind  for  every  subsequent  six  hundred  members 
in  full  relation  within  the  conference,  provided, 
nevertheless,  that  in  no  case  shall  a  preacher  be 
counted  more  than  once  in  the  election  of  delegates. 

89.  In  electing  delegates  to  the  general  confer¬ 
ence,  the  preachers  and  lay  members  shall  vote  sepa¬ 
rately,  each  branch  electing  by  ballot;  the  preachers 

47 


48 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE 


from  the  elders  in  full  membership  in  the  conference, 
and  the  lay  delegates  from  persons  in  full  member¬ 
ship  in  the  church  within  the  bounds  of  the  confer¬ 
ence,  the  delegates  to  which  they  are  respectively  en¬ 
titled.  Ministerial  delegates  must  be  members  of  the 
conference  which  elected  them,  and  lay  delegates 
members  of  the  church  within  the  bounds  of  the  con¬ 
ference  which  elected  them,  at  the  time  of  the  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  general  conference. 

90.  Whenever  two-thirds  of  the  annual  confer¬ 
ences  shall  demand  it,  the  bishop  or  bishops,  or,  if 
there  be  none,  the  secretary  of  the  general  confer¬ 
ence,  shall  call  an  extra  session  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference,  fixing  the  date  thereof,  and  the  time -of  as¬ 
sembling,  later  than  the  next  ensuing  session  of  each 
of  the  annual  conferences. 

fl  91.  The  general  conference  shall  meet  on  the 
second  Wednesday  of  June,  1927,  and  once  in  four 
years  thereafter,  at  such  place  as  it  may  designate. 

T|  92.  At  all  times,  when  the  general  conference  is 
met,  it  shall  take  two-tliirds  of  all  the  delegates 
elected  by  the  annual  conference  to  form  a  quorum 
to  do  business;  but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn 
from  time  to  time,  until  a  quorum  is  obtained. 

93.  One  of  the  bishops  shall  preside  in  the  gen¬ 
eral  conference;  but,  in  case  no  bishop  be  present, 
the  general  conference  shall  elect,  by  ballot,  an  elder 
as  president  pro  tern. 

ft  94.  Each  general  conference  shall  elect,  by  bal¬ 
lot,  one  or  more  traveling  elders  as  bishops,  a  secre¬ 
tary,  a  treasurer,  except  when  the  general  confer¬ 
ence  shall  order  such  treasurer  to  be  elected  by  the 
executive  committee;  an  editor  of  the  Free  Methodist, 
an  editor  of  our  Sunday-school  literature,  a  publish¬ 
ing  agent,  a  missionary  secretary,  a  general  Sunday- 
school  secretary,  and  an  educational  secretary,  who 
may  be  nominated  by  the  board  of  education.  The 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE 


49 


general  conference  may  elect,  by  ballot,  one  or  more 
general  evangelists.  It  shall  also  elect  one  traveling 
elder  and  one  lay  member  from  each  of  the  general 
conference  missionary  districts,  who,  with  the  bish¬ 
ops,  shall  constitute  the  executive  committee;  and 
one  traveling  elder  and  one  lay  member  from  each 
of  the  general  conference  missionary  districts  to  act 
on  the  missionary  board.  Members  of  both  of  these, 
viz.,  the  executive  committee  and  the  missionary 
board  shall  be  nominated  by  the  delegates  of  the  gen¬ 
eral  conference  missionary  districts  by  ballot,  the 
members  for  the  executive  committee  from  their  dele¬ 
gations,  and  the  members  for  the  missionary  board 
from  the  membership  of  the  church  on  the  general 
conference  missionary  districts.  These  nominations 
shall  be  confirmed  by  the  general  conference.  The 
general  conference  may  elect  a  missionary  bishop  or 
bishops  whose  duties  and  official  relation  shall  be 
confined  to  the  field  to  which  they  are  respectively 
elected. 

95.  The  secretary  of  the  general  conference 
shall  continue  in  office  until  his  successor  is  elected, 
and  shall  be  the  custodian  of  the  general  conference 
records  and  journals. 

ft  96.  The  members  of  the  general  conference  shall 
deliberate  and  vote  as  one  body;  nevertheless,  upon 
a  call  of  a  majority  of  the  members  present  and  vot¬ 
ing,  the  house  shall  divide;  and  it  shall  require  a 
majority  of  the  ministerial  and  of  the  lay  delegates 
present  to  pass  any  vote,  or  transact  any  business. 

97.  The  general  conference  shall  have  full  power 
to  make  rules  and  regulations  for  our  church,  under 
the  following  limitations  and  restrictions: 

1.  The  general  conference  shall  not  revoke,  alter, 
or  change  our  articles  of  religion,  or  the  general  rules 
of  the  united  societies,  or  establish  any  new  stand- 


50 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE 


ards  of  rules  of  doctrine  contrary  to  our  present, 
existing  and  established  standards  of  doctrine. 

2.  It  shall  not  change  or  alter  any  part  or  rule 
of  our  government,  so  as  to  do  away  with  lay  dele¬ 
gation,  or  an  itinerant  ministry,  or  general  superin¬ 
tendency,  or  the  free-seat  system  in  our  churches. 

3.  It  shall  not  have  power  to  deprive  our  preach¬ 
ers  or  members  of  the  right  of  trial  by  an  impartial 
committee,  and  of  an  appeal. 

ff  98.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  upon  the  con¬ 
current  recommendation  of  three-fourths  of  all  the 
members  of  the  several  annual  conferences,  who  shall 
be  present  and  vote  on  such  a  recommendation,  then 
a  majority  of  two-thirds  of  the  general  conference 
succeeding,  shall  suffice  to  alter  either  of  the  above 
restrictions,  except  the  last;  and  also,  whenever  such 
alteration,  or  alterations,  shall  have  been  first  recom¬ 
mended  by  two-thirds  of  the  general  conference,  as 
soon  as  three-fourths  of  the  members  of  all  the  an¬ 
nual  conferences  shall  have  concurred  as  aforesaid, 
such  alteration,  or  alterations,  shall  take  effect. 

If  99.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  preacher  in 

charge  of  a  circuit  to  raise  annually  an  amount  equal 
to  three  cents  per  member  in  full  relation,  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  entertaining  the  general  conference, 
and  also  an  amount  equal  to  seven  cents  a  member  to 
defray  expenses  of  delegates  to  and  from  the  general 
conference. 

2.  We  recommend  our  people  to  observe  the  Fri¬ 
day  preceding  each  general  conference  as  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer. 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

in  oo.  The  executive  committee  shall  consist  of  the 
bishops,  and  one  traveling  elder  and  one  lay  member 
from  each  of  the  general  conference  districts,  to  be 
selected  by  the  general  conference  from  its  members. 
The  president  of  the  executive  committee  shall  be  one 
of  the  bishops,  to  be  elected  by  the  committee;  but  in 
case  there  is  no  bishop  to  serve,  then  the  committee 
shall  elect  an  elder  from  its  members  to  preside. 

If  101.  The  executive  committee  shall  meet  an¬ 
nually,  and  whenever  the  bishops  or  one-third  of  the 
committee  shall  deem  it  necessary.  A  majority  of  the 
members  elected  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  trans¬ 
acting  business. 

ff  1 02.  1.  The  executive  committee  shall  have 

power  to  accept  resignations  from  any  of  its  mem¬ 
bers  or  from  any  of  the  general  conference  officers 
during  the  interim  of  the  general  conference  sessions, 
and  fill  all  vacancies  occurring,  either  in  its  own  body 
or  in  any  of  the  general  conference  elective  offices, 
subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Discipline. 

2.  The  executive  committee  may  elect  by  ballot 
an  assistant  publishing  agent;  the  publishing  agent 
may  nominate.  They  shall  also  annually  elect  by  bal¬ 
lot  a  board  of  seven  directors  of  the  Publishing  House, 
not  more  than  two  of  whom  shall  be  bishops. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  the  exec¬ 
utive  committee  to  make  a  full  report  of  its  proceedings 
during  the  quadrennium  to  the  general  conference. 


51 


52 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 


H 103.  1.  The  executive  committee  shall  consti¬ 

tute  a  court  of  appeals,  which  shall,  if  necessary, 
hold  a  session  once  a  year,  for  the  purpose  of  trying 
all  appeals  that  may  be  taken  thereto  by  any  travel¬ 
ing  preachers,  from  the  decision  of  an  annual  confer¬ 
ence.  One  of  the  bishops  shall  preside  at  the  trial  of 
appeal  cases.  Eight  members  of  the  committee  on 
appeals  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

2.  The  executive  committee  shall  have  the  power 
to  decide  all  questions  of  law  referred  to  it  in  the 
interim  of  the  general  conference.  In  case  of  any 
alleged  legal  irregularities  in  a  trial  court,  where  such 
court  shall  deliver  a  verdict  against  the  church,  the 
prosecution  may  upon  a  written  recital  of  such  irreg¬ 
ularities,  apply  to  the  executive  committee  or  the 
general  conference  for  a  writ  of  review,  and  it  shall 
be  the  province  of  that  body  receiving  such  applica¬ 
tion  to  review  the  proceedings  of  the  lower  court  as 
recited,  and  if  such  body  shall  find  the  alleged  irreg¬ 
ularities  to  exist,  the  case  may  be  remanded  for  a 
new  trial,  but  such  case  can  be  remanded  but  once. 

3.  The  executive  committee  shall  also  constitute 
the  board  of  conference  claimants  and  the  church  ex¬ 
tension  society. 

U  1 04.  The  executive  committee  shall  have  gen¬ 
eral  supervision  of  the  publishing  interests  of  the 
church  during  the  interim  of  the  general  conference 
sessions,  and  shall  carefully  examine  into  their  con¬ 
dition.  It  shall  not,  however,  have  power  to  change 
the  site  of  the  publishing  house,  except  with  the  con¬ 
sent  of  three-fourths  of  all  the  members  who  shall 
be  present  at  a  regularly  called  meeting.  The  salary 
of  all  general  conference  officers  shall  be  fixed  by  the 
executive  committee  except  that  of  the  bishops  and 
of  the  missionary  secretary. 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  ANNUAL  CONFERENCES* 


1 05.  Each  annual  conference  shall  be  composed 
of  all  the  traveling,  supernumerary  and  superannu¬ 
ated  preachers  who  have  been  duly  received  into 
full  membership,  within  its  bounds,  and  of  lay  dele¬ 
gates  elected  by  the  several  circuits,  as  provided  for 
in  paragraph  130  (2),  and  women  evangelists  as 
provided  for  in  paragraph  172  (4). 

If  106.  Each  circuit  shall  be  entitled  to  one  dele¬ 
gate,  and  whenever  there  shall  be  more  than  one^ 
preacher  traveling  upon  a  circuit,  if  the  preacher  or 
preachers  be  members  in  full  relation  in  confer¬ 
ence,  the  circuit  shall  be  entitled  to  one  additional 
delegate  for  every  such  additional  preacher. 

If  107.  There  shall  be  the  following  annual  con¬ 
ferences,  to  wit:  The  Genesee,  the  Illinois,  the  Sus¬ 
quehanna,  the  Michigan,  the  Kansas,  the  Minnesota 
and  Northern  Iowa,  the  New  York,  the  Iowa,  the  Wis¬ 
consin,  the  North  Michigan,  the  Ohio,  the  Central 
Illinois,  the  Texas,  the  Missouri,  the  West  Kansas, 
the  South  Dakota,  the  Pittsburgh,  the  California,  the 
i  East  Michigan,  the  Louisiana,  the  Oregon,  the  West 
Iowa,  the  Wabash,  the  Colorado,  the  North  Minne¬ 
sota,  the  Nebraska,  the  Southern  California,  the 
Arkansas  and  Southern  Missouri,  the  Columbia  River, 
the  Washington,  the  Platte  River,  the  West  Ontario, 
the  East  Ontario,  the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  the 


See  paragraph  86. 


53 


54 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCES 


North  Dakota,  the  Oil  City,  the  Oklahoma,  the  South 
Africa,  the  Southern  Oregon,  the  Georgia  and  Florida, 
the  Saskatchewan,  the  Alberta,  the  East  Texas,  the 
North  Indiana,  and  such  others  as  may  be  organized 
as  hereinafter  provided. 

108.  Whenever  a  new  society  shall  be  organized 
near  the  boundary  line  between  any  two  conferences, 
and  the  conference  in  whose  territory  the  new  society 
is  located  shall  have  no  organized  work  within  forty 
miles  of  said  new  society,  such  new  society  shall  be 
permitted  to  decide  for  itself  to  which  conference  it 
shall  belong. 

II  109.  Each  annual  conference  shall  appoint  the 
place,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  bishops,  the 
time  of  its  own  sessions.  If  for  any  reason  a  con¬ 
ference  cannot  be  held  at  the  place  appointed,  the 
determination  of  the  place  shall  be  left  with  the  dis¬ 
trict  elders  and  the  secretary  of  the  last  conference. 

[f  I  10.  1.  In  the  absence  of  the  bishop,  or  of  the 

elder  whom  he  may  have  appointed,  the  conference 
shall  elect,  by  ballot,  an  elder  from  their  own  number, 
to  preside. 

2.  It  shall  elect  a  secretary,  who  may  be  elected 
by  ballot,  who  shall  record  in  a  suitable  book  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  annual  conference,  and  send  said  rec¬ 
ord  to  the  general  conference  for  examination.  He 
shall  continue  in  office  until  his  successor  is  elected 
and  shall  be  the  custodian  of  the  conference  records 
and  journal. 

3.  It  shall  elect  a  treasurer,  and  in  case  of  a  va¬ 
cancy  in  said  office  the  district  elders  of  the  confer¬ 
ence  may  appoint  a  treasurer  to  act  until  the  next 
session. 

4.  It  shall  elect  an  auditor  who  shall  carefully 
audit  the  accounts  of  the  treasurer  and  report  at 
the  close  of  each  annual  session. 

[fill.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCES 


55 


each  annual  conference  holding  its  session  next  pre¬ 
ceding  the  session  of  general  conference  to  transcribe 
from  the  annual  conference  records  all  the  decisions 
of  disciplinary  law  rendered  by  the  bishops  during  the 
quadrennium,  giving  the  number  of  page  or  pages 
upon  which  such  decisions  are  recorded,  and  forward 
the  same  with  the  conference  records  to  the  seat  of 
general  conference. 

I  1 2.  The  ministers  and  lay  members  composing 
the  annual  conference  shall  deliberate  and  vote  as  one 
body;  but  at  the  call  of  a  majority  of  all  the  members 
present  and  voting,  the  house  shall  divide,  and  the 
ministers  and  lay  members  vote  separately;  and  it 
shall  require  a  majority  of  both  branches  to  consti¬ 
tute  a  vote  of  the  conference. 

I  13.  The  territory  embraced  by  each  annual  con¬ 
ference  shall  be  divided  into  districts,  and  over  each 
of  these  one  of  the  elders  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
conference  as  district  elder. 

H  I  14.  The  district  elders  and  an  equal  number  of 
lay  members  to  be  elected  by  ballot  the  first  day  of 
the  session,  together  with  the  president  of  the  con¬ 
ference,  shall  constitute  a  stationing  committee,  of 
which  the  president  shall  be  chairman,  and  have  a 
casting  vote.  If  for  any  reason  a  district  elder  is  not 
able  to  serve  on  the  stationing  committee,  the  confer¬ 
ence  shall  elect  one  of  its  elders  to  take  his  place. 
No  person  who  is  recommended  to  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence  to  be  received  on  trial,  nor  a  supply,  though  act¬ 
ing  as  a  delegate,  shall  be  eligible  to  serve  on  the  sta¬ 
tioning  committee.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  station¬ 
ing  committee  to  appoint  the  preachers  to  their  sev¬ 
eral  fields  of  labor.  No  preacher  shall  be  appointed 
to  the  same  circuit  more  than  three  years  in  succes¬ 
sion,  except  in  the  case  of  appointments  among  for¬ 
eign  speaking  or  colored  people.  No  minister  who 
refuses  to  serve  a  charge  or  circuit  when  appointed 


56 


ANNUAL 


by  his  conference  shall  be  appointed  to  any  work  by 
another  conference  or  district  elder  without  the  con¬ 
sent  of  the  district  elder  of  the  circuit  which  he  re¬ 
fused  to  serve. 

ft  I  15.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual  confer¬ 
ence  having  claimants,  to  appoint  a  committee  at 
each  annual  session  on  claimants  and  claims,  com¬ 
posed  of  the  president  of  the  conference,  and  two 
ministers  and  two  lay  members  nominated  by  the 
president  and  elected  by  the  conference.  No  minis¬ 
ter  shall  be  placed  on  the  superannuated  list  without 
having  first  been  recommended  by  this  committee.  It 
shall  also  be  the  duty  of  this  committee  at  the  session 
during  which  it  serves,  to  report  as  to  who  are  claim¬ 
ants  and  to  estimate  the  amount  necessary  for  their 
support  for  the  ensuing  year,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  conference,  which  shall  forward  the  estimate 
to  the  secretary  of  the  board  of  claimants. 

ft  I  16.  An  annual  conference  may,  upon  the  unan¬ 
imous  recommendation  of  the  stationing  committee, 
leave  a  preacher  without  an  appointment.  Any 
preacher  so  left  without  an  appointment  two  years  in 
succession  may  be  located  by  vote  of  the  annual  con¬ 
ference. 

ft  I  i  7.  When  a  preacher  is  located,  or  discontinued 
by  an  annual  conference,  the  stationing  committee 
shall  fix  the  place  of  his  membership.  When  an  un¬ 
ordained  preacher  on  trial  and  in  good  standing  in 
the  annual  conference  is  discontinued  from  the  travel¬ 
ing  connection  by  his  conference,  he  shall  sustain  the 
relation  of  local  preacher  until  the  ensuing  session  of 
his  quarterly  conference. 

ft  I  1 8.  A  preacher  may  be  appointed  to  a  circuit 
without  having  charge  of  the  same;  in  such  cases  the 
administration  of  the  circuit  shall  devolve  upon  the 
district  elder  and  the  official  board.  See  Par.  447. 

ft  I  1 9.  Each  annual  conference  is  required  to  or- 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCES 


57 


i 


ganize  a  conference  evangelistic  board  which  shall  be 
authorized  to  carry  on  aggressive  evangelistic  work 
within  its  bounds.  This  board  shall  have  power  to 
raise  funds  and  to  employ  evangelists,  band  workers 
and  helpers  to  labor  within  the  conference  bounds, 
who,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  district  elders,  shall 
be  authorized  to  establish  new  societies  where  the  in¬ 
terests  of  the  cause  of  God  require,  providing  that  it 
make  provision  and  be  responsible  for  the  support  of 
all  the  laborers  which  it  employs. 

fl  120.  Whenever  a  woman  holding  an  evangelist's 
license  is  recommended  by  the  quarterly  conference 
as  a  suitable  person  to  be  received  into  the  annual 
conference,  she  may  be  received  on  trial  and  into  full 
membership  and  be  ordained  a  deacon,  on  the  same 
conditions  as  we  receive  men  into  the  same  relations; 
provided  always,  that  this  ordination  of  women  shall 
not  be  regarded  as  a  step  toward  ordination  as  elder, 
and  provided  further,  that  no  woman  whose  husband 
is  a  member  of  an  annual  conference  either  on  trial 
or  in  full  relation  shall  be  eligible  to  be  received  into 
the  conference. 

121.  Members  of  an  annual  conference  may  be 
appointed  as  evangelists.  They  shall  be  entitled  to 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  those  appointed  to  cir¬ 
cuits,  and  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  and  reg¬ 
ulations,  so  far  as  they  apply  to  their  circumstances. 
They  shall  be  subject  to  the  restrictions  of  paragraph 
172  (8).  No  preacher,  however,  shall  be  granted  an 
evangelist’s  relation  to  the  conference  who  does  not 
intend  to  devote  all  his  time  to  evangelistic  work. 

IF  '22.  Each  annual  conference  shall  inquire — 

1.  What  are  the  names  of  preachers  and  dele¬ 
gates  having  a  seat  in  this  conference? 

2.  Who  are  the  stationing  committee? 

3.  What  preachers  are  admitted  on  trial? 

4.  Who  remain  on  trial? 


58 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCES 


5.  Who  are  admitted  into  full  membership? 

6.  Who  are  the  deacons? 

7.  Who  have  been  elected  and  ordained  elders  this 
year? 

8.  Who  have  located  this  year? 

0.  Who  are  the  supernumerary  preachers? 

10.  Who  are  the  superannuated  preachers? 

11.  Who  have  been  received  by  transfer  and  from 
what  conference?* 

12.  Who  have  withdrawn  from  the  conference  this 
year? 

13.  Who  h-ave  been  given  certificates  of  good 
standing  with  a  view  to  transfer  to  another  confer¬ 
ence? 

14.  Have  any  been  permitted  to  withdraw  under 
charges  or  complaints? 

15.  Have  any  been  expelled? 

16.  Are  all  the  preachers  blameless  in  life  and 
conversation?  Have  they,  during  the  past  year,  dis¬ 
charged  their  duties  to  God,  themselves,  and  one  an¬ 
other?  See  paragraphs  135  to  138  and  142. f 

17.  Who  have  died  this  year? 

18.  What  is  the  number  of  church  members? 

19.  Amount  collected  for  conference  claimants? 
For  the  bishops?  For  general  missions?  For  the 
annual  conference  missionary  fund?  For  foreign 
missions?  For  educational  fund? 

20.  Number  of  Sunday-schools?  Of  officers  and 
teachers?  Of  scholars?  Of  members  on  the  cradle 
roll?  Of  members  in  the  home  department?  Of 
volumes  in  library? 

21.  What  has  been  expended  during  the  year  on 


*  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  conference  receiving  a 
preacher  by  transfer  to  notify  the  secretary  of  the  con¬ 
ference  from  which  he  was  transferred  of  his  reception. 

t  Let  the  president  call  attention  to  the  contents  of 
these  portions  of  the  Discipline. 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCES 


59 


the  circuits  for  Sabbath-school  purposes?  What  has 
been  raised  by  the  Sabbath-schools  for  foreign  mis¬ 
sions  and  other  benevolences? 

22.  How  many  copies  of  the  Free  Methodist  are 
taken? 

23.  What  amounts  are  recommended  for  the  su¬ 
perannuated  preachers,  and  the  widows  and  orphans 
of  preachers? 

24.  At  the  session  next  preceding  the  session  of 
the  general  conference,  the  question  shall  be  asked, 
What  amount  is  necessary  for  us  to  raise  toward 
defraying  the  expenses  of  delegates  to  the  general 
conference  and  the  entertainment  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference. 

25.  What  has  been  collected  on  the  foregoing  ac¬ 
counts,  and  how  has  it  been  applied? 

26.  Where  are  the  preachers  stationed  this  year? 

27.  Where,  and  when,  shall  our  next  conference 
be  held? 

1 23.  The  conference  year  of  each  annual  confer¬ 
ence  shall  close  automatically  with  the  adjournment 
of  that  conference. 

124.  We  recommend  our  people  to  observe  the 
Friday  preceding  each  annual  conference  as  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer. 

l24'/2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual  con¬ 
ference  to  devise  a  plan  to  raise  its  quota  of  the  Spe¬ 
cial  Stewardship  Fund  ordered  by  the  last  general 
conference. 


CHAPTER  IV 


THE  QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE 

125.  1.  The  quarterly  conference  shall  be  com¬ 

posed  of  the  traveling  preachers  and  the  members  of 
the  official  boards  of  the  district. 

2.  Four  sessions  of  the  quarterly  conference  shall 
be  held  each  year,  in  connection  with  the  general 
quarterly  meetings,  at  such  times  and  places  as  it 
may  designate,  provided,  however,  that  upon  the  writ¬ 
ten  request  of  one-lialf  of  the  preachers  on  the  dis¬ 
trict  and  an  equal  number  of  lay  members,  who  are 
members  of  the  quarterly  conference,  the  district 
elder  may  call  a  special  session. 

3.  The  district  elder  shall  be  president  of  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference,  and  in  his  absence,  or  in  the  absence 
of  an  elder  whom  he  may  appoint,  the  quarterly  con¬ 
ference  shall  elect  one  of  its  members  amenable  to 
the  annual  conference  to  preside. 

4.  A  secretary  shall  be  elected  by  the  quarterly 
conference,  who  shall  keep  a  faithful  record  of  its  pro¬ 
ceedings,  and  shall  send  the  said  record  to  the  annual 
conference  for  its  examination.  The  quarterly  confer¬ 
ence  shall  also  elect  a  treasurer  for  the  district. 

5.  The  quarterly  conference  shall, 

(1)  Hear  complaints. 

(2)  Try  appeals. 

13)  Grant  and  renew  licenses  to  preach. 

(4)  License  band  workers. 

(5)  Recommend  suitable  persons  to  the  annual  con¬ 
ference  to  be  employed  as  traveling  preachers. 

(6)  Recommend  suitable  persons  to  the  annual  con¬ 
ference  to  receive  deaconess’  license. 


60 


QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE 


G1 


(7)  Recommend  suitable  persons  to  the  annual 
conference  to  receive  ordination  as  deacons  or  elders. 

(8)  In  connection  with  the  district  elder,  appoint 
and  hold  camp  meetings  as  the  interests  of  the  cause 
of  God  may  require. 

fll 26.  No  person  shall  be  licensed  as  a  local  preacher 
until  he  has  been  previously  licensed  as  au  exhorter 
and  has  been  recommended  by  the  official  board  of  the 
circuit  to  which  he  belongs,  and  until  he  has  first  been 
examined  by  the  quarterly  conference,  or  district 
elder,  in  regard  to  his  soundness  in  doctrine  and  his 
piety,  gifts,  and  usefulness  have  been  duly  consid¬ 
ered.  No  one  shall  be  licensed  until  satisfactory  an¬ 
swers  are  given  to  all  the  questions  found  in  para¬ 
graph  134  of  the  Discipline:  “Of  the  Examination  of 
Those  Who  Think  They  are  Moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  Preach.” 

Order  of  Business  for  Quarterly  Conference 

If  1 27.  1.  Call  to  order,  by  district  elder,  or,  in 

his  absence,  by  the  secretary. 

2.  Devotional  exercises. 

3.  Calling  of  the  roll.  (At  the  first  session  of  the 
year  a  roll  should  be  made  out  and  then  called.) 

4.  Election  of  secretary. 

5.  Election  of  treasurer. 

6.  Reading  of  the  minutes  of  previous  session. 

7.  Reports  from  committees. 

8.  Is  there  any  unfinished  business? 

9.  Is  there  any  new  business? 

10.  Are  there  any  complaints? 

11.  Are  there  any  appeals? 

12.  Shall  we  hold  any  camp  meetings  this  year? 
If  so,  how  many?  When?  Where? 

13.  Are  there  any  recommendations  for  local 
preacher's  license?  For  evangelist’s  license?  For 
band  worker’s  license? 


62  QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE 

14.  Reports  from  preachers  on  condition  of  the 
charges,  and  also  regarding  the  Sunday-schools. 

15.  Reports  from  evangelists  and  deaconesses. 

16.  Financial  report  of  district  elder. 

17.  Report  of  treasurer. 

(Questions  IS  to  24,  last  session  of  year  only.) 

18.  Are  there  any  licenses  to  be  renewed?*  Lo¬ 
cal  preachers’ ?  Evangelists’?  Are  there  any  deacon¬ 
esses  to  be  recommended  to  the  annual  conference  for 
renewal  of  license  or  for  permanent  license? 

19.  Are  there  any  suitable  persons  to  be  recom¬ 
mended  to  the  annual  conference  for  reception  on  trial? 

20.  Are  there  any  women  evangelists  to  be  recom¬ 
mended  for  a  seat  in  the  annual  conference? 

21.  Are  there  any  evangelists  to  be  recommended 
for  annual  conference  license? 

22.  Are  there  any  women  to  be  recommended  to 
the  annual  conference  for  deaconess’  license? 

23.  Are  all  the  local  elders,  local  deacons,  evan¬ 
gelists  and  deaconesses  licensed  by  the  annual  con¬ 
ference,  blameless  in  life  and  faithful  and  efficient  in 
service ?t 

24.  Are  there  any  recommendations  to  the  annual 
conference  for  ordination?  As  elder?  As  deacon? 

25.  When  and  where  shall  our  next  session  be 
held? 

26.  Reading  and  approval  of  minutes. 

27.  Adjournment. 

*  All  licenses  previously  granted  should  be  renewed  at 
the  last  session  of  the  conference  year. 

t  All  preachers,  evangelists  and  deaconesses  should 
retire  while  their  characters  or  their  licenses  are  under 
consideration.  Evangelists  licensed  by  the  annual  con¬ 
ference  shall  make  a  report  of  their  work  to  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference,  and  in  case  of  failure  to  do  so,  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference  may  recommend  to  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence  that  said  license  be  revoked. 


CHAPTER  V 


THE  OFFICIAL  BOARD 

1-28.  1.  An  official  meeting,  composed  of  the 

pastors,  local  preachers,  exhorters,  evangelists,  dea¬ 
conesses,  stewards,  class  leaders,  Sunday-school  super¬ 
intendents  who  are  members  of  our  church  and  belong 
on  the  circuit,  and  trustees  of  church  property  when 
such  trustees  are  members  of  our  church  on  the  cir¬ 
cuit  where  the  church  property  is  located,  shall  be 
held  in  each  circuit  once  a  month  whenever  prac¬ 
ticable. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be  chairman  of 
the  official  meeting,  except  as  provided  for  in  para¬ 
graph  160  (6),  and  in  his  absence  a  chairman  shall  be 
elected. 

3.  A  secretary  and  treasurer  shall  be  elected  by 
the  official  board.  The  secretary  shall  keep  in  a  suit¬ 
able  book,  provided  for  that  purpose,  faithful  minutes 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  official  board,  and  also  of 
the  meetings  of  the  circuit  and  shall  properly  record 
all  marriages  and  baptisms.  The  treasurer  shall  keep 
a  record  of  all  money  raised  on  the  circuit  for  religious 
purposes,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  the  same  was 
expended,  and  give  a  full  report  of  the  same  at  the 
annual  circuit  meeting. 

4.  The  official  board  shall  look  after  the  spiritual 
and  temporal  interests  of  the  circuit. 

Order  of  Business  for  Official  Meeting 

If  129.  1.  Devotional  exercises. 

2.  Election  of  a  secretary. 


63 


64 


OFFICIAL  BOARD 


3.  Calling  of  the  roll. 

4.  Reading  of  the  minutes  of  the  previous  meet¬ 
ing. 

5.  Election  of  a  treasurer. 

6.  Inquire,  (1)  Are  there  any  sick? 

(2)  Are  there  any  poor  needing  help? 

(3)  Are  there  any  whose  probation  has  expired? 

(4)  Who  have  been  received  into  full  connection? 

(5)  Are  there  any  walking  disorderly  and  who 
will  not  be  reproved? 

(6)  Are  there  any  recommendations  from  the  so¬ 
ciety  for  exhorter's  license?* 

(7)  Are  there  any  exhorters’  licenses  to  be  re¬ 
newed? 

(8)  Are  there  any  exhorters  to  be  recommended 
for  local  preachers’  license? 

(9)  Have  any  been  married  or  baptized? 

(10)  Have  any  died? 

(11)  Have  the  collections  been  taken  as  ordered 
by  the  conference? 

(12)  What  amount  has  been  raised  for  pastoral 
support? 

(13)  What  amount  has  been  raised  for  the  dis¬ 
trict  elder’s  claim? 

(14)  What  amount  has  been  raised  for  other  pur¬ 
poses,  and  how  has  it  been  applied? 

(15)  Is  there  any  money  in  the  treasury? 

(16)  Are  there  any  claims  to  be  presented? 

(17)  Is  there  any  unfinished  business,  or  are  there 
any  committees  to  report? 

(18)  Is  there  any  new  business,  or  are  there  any 
committees  to  be  appointed? 

(19)  Are  there  any  vacancies  in  the  board  of 
trustees? 

*  No  person  should  be  licensed  to  exhort  without  a 
recommendation  from  the  society  of  which  he  is  a  mem¬ 
ber. 


OFFICIAL  BOARD 


65 


(20)  Is  the  title  of  the  church  property  secure? 

(21)  Is  the  church  property  insured? 

(22)  Are  the  advices  and  requirements  regarding 
the  cultivation  of  vocal  music  found  in  paragraph  81 
being  observed? 

7.  Reading  the  minutes. 

8.  Adjournment. 


CHAPTER  YI 


THE  CIRCUIT  MEETING 

Tf  1 30.  1.  Every  circuit  shall  have,  within  three 

months  prior  to  the  session  of  the  annual  conference 
to  which  it  belongs,  an  annual  circuit  meeting,  of 
which  the  preacher  in  charge  shall  be  chairman,  but 
cannot  vote,  and  the  secretary  of  the  official  board 
shall  be  secretary.  Such  circuit  meeting  shall  be  an¬ 
nounced  in  each  society  at  least  ten  days  before  said 
meeting  shall  be  held. 

2.  At  this  meeting  the  members  of  the  church  in 
full  relation  on  the  circuit  shall  elect,  by  ballot,  one 
or  more  of  their  number  to  represent  them  in  the  an¬ 
nual  conference  according  to  the  provisions  of  para¬ 
graph  106.  No  person  on  trial  in  an  annual  confer¬ 
ence  shall  be  eligible  to  election  as  a  delegate. 

3.  The  annual  circuit  meeting  shall  decide  the 
number  of  stewards  to  be  elected  upon  the  circuit, 
and  also  the  number  to  be  elected  by  each  society. 
Where  there  is  but  one  society,  stewards,  Sunday- 
school  superintendents  and  trustees  (when  not  in 
conflict  with  the  charter  or  the  laws  of  the  state) 
may  be  elected  by  the  annual  circuit  meeting.  Any 
vacancy  that  may  occur  shall  be  filled  by  the  so¬ 
ciety  in  which  such  vacancy  occurs.  See  paragraph 
132  (3). 

4.  At  this  meeting  there  shall  be  a  full  report  pre¬ 
sented  by  the  trustees  of  the  church  property. 

5.  The  preacher  in  charge  of  a  circuit,  or  in  his 
absence  or  refusal  to  do  it,  a  majority  of  the  official 


06 


CIRCUIT  MEETING 


67 


board,  may  call  a  meeting  of  the  circuit,  whenever 
in  their  judgment  the  interests  of  the  church  require 

it. 

6.  It  is  improper  for  the  society  to  take  a  vote  as 
to  the  return  of  their  pastor. 

Order  of  Business  for  Circuit  Meeting 

fl  131.  1.  Devotional  exercises. 

(Secretary  of  the  official  board  acts  as  secretary.) 

2.  Calling  of  the  roll. 

3.  Report  of  treasurer  of  official  board,  paragraph 
128  (3). 

4.  Election  of  tellers. 

5.  Election  of  a  delegate  to  the  annual  conference. 

6.  Election  of  a  reserve  delegate. 

7.  Decide  the  number  of  stewards  to  have  in  each 
society  on  the  circuit. 

8.  Receive  the  report  of  the  trustees. 

9.  Miscellaneous  business. 

10.  Approval  of  the  minutes. 

11.  Adjournment. 


CHAPTER  VII 


THE  SOCIETY  MEETING 

If  132.  1.  The  society  meeting  shall  be  composed 

of  all  the  members  of  the  church  in  full  relation, 
composing  a  single  society. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be  chairman  of 
the  society  meeting,  and  a  record  of  its  proceedings 
shall  be  kept  by  a  secretary  elected  for  that  purpose. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  society  meeting  to 
recommend  suitable  persons  for  exhorters’  and  evan¬ 
gelists’  licenses,  for  deaconess’  license  and  for  band 
workers;  to  elect  the  number  of  stewards  directed  by 
the  annual  circuit  meeting;  elect  Sunday-school  super¬ 
intendents;  to  select  persons  to  act  as  a  committee  in 
case  of  the  trial  of  members;  decide  the  propriety  of 
incorporating;  elect  trustees  subject  in  all  cases  to 
the  statutes  of  the  state,  territory  or  country  in  which 
the  society  is  located. 

4.  The  preacher  in  charge  of  a  circuit*  or  in  his 
absence  or  refusal  to  do  it,  a  majority  of  the  official 
board,  may  call  a  meeting  of  the  society,  whenever  in 
their  judgment  the  interests  of  the  church  require  it. 

Order  of  Business  for  Society  Meeting 

If  133.  1.  Devotional  exercises. 

2.  Calling  of  the  roll. 

3.  Election  of  a  secretary. 

4.  Recommendations:  (1)  For  exhorter’s  license 
(to  the  official  board).  (2)  For  evangelist’s  license 


68 


SOCIETY  MEETINGS 


69 


(to  the  district  quarterly  conference).  (3)  For  dea¬ 
coness’  license  (to  the  district  quarterly  confer¬ 
ence).  (4)  For  band  worker's  license  (to  the  district 
quarterly  conference). 

5.  Election  of  tellers. 

6.  Election  of  stewards  (the  number  fixed  by  the 
circuit  meeting). 

7.  Election  of  Sunday-school  superintendent.  (The 
preacher  in  charge  may  nominate.  See  paragraph 
255). 

8.  Elect  trial  committee. 

9.  Decide  whether  to  incorporate  (if  necessary). 

10.  Elect  trustees  (if  the  state  law  allows). 

11.  Miscellaneous  business. 

12.  Approval  of  the  minutes 

13.  Adjournment. 

Each  class  elects  its  own  class  leader.  The  preach¬ 
er  in  charge  may  nominate.  See  paragraph  176  (1). 
At  this  meeting  the  preacher  in  charge  cannot  vote. 


PART  IV 


THE  MINISTRY 


CHAPTERS 

I.  QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 

II.  MINISTERS  AND  ANNUAL  CONFER- 
ENCES 

III.  DEACONS  AND  ELDERS 

IV.  BISHOPS 

V.  DISTRICT  ELDERS 

VI.  PASTORS,  OR  PREACHERS  IN  CHARGE 

VII.  SUPERNUMERARY  AND  SUPERANNU¬ 
ATED  MINISTERS 


CHAPTER  I 


QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 
I.  The  Call  to  Preach 

134.  Examination  of  Those  Who  Think  They 
Are  Moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  Preach. — 1.  The 
following  questions  shall  be  asked  the  candidate, 
namely:  Do  you  know  God  as  a  pardoning  God? 
Have  you  the  love  of  God  abiding  in  you?  Do  you 
desire  nothing  but  what  is  in  the  will  of  God?  Do 
you  believe  you  are  called  of  God  to  preach  the  gos¬ 
pel? 

2.  The  following  questions  shall  be  considered  by 
the  quarterly  conference:  Have  they  gifts  as  well  as 
grace  for  the  work?  Have  they  in  some  tolerable  de¬ 
gree  a  clear,  sound  understanding,  a  right  judgment 
in  the  things  of  God,  and  a  just  conception  of  salva¬ 
tion  by  faith?  Has  God  given  them  any  degree  of 
utterance?  Do  they  speak  justly,  readily,  clearly? 
Have  they  fruit?  Are  any  truly  convinced  of  sin,  and 
converted  to  God  by  their  preaching?  And  are  they 
holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation? 

As  long  as  these  marks  concur  in  any  one,  we  be¬ 
lieve  he  is  called  of  God  to  preach.  These  we  receive 
as  sufficient  proof  that  he  is  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

II.  Rules  for  a  Preacher’s  Conduct 

135.  Be  diligent.  Never  be  unemployed;  never 
be  triflingly  employed.  Never  trifle  away  time; 


73 


QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 


74 

neither  spend  any  more  time  at  any  place  than  is 
strictly  necessary. 

Be  serious.  Let  your  motto  be,  Holiness  to  the 
Lord.  Avoid  all  lightness,  jesting  and  foolish  talking. 

Converse  sparingly  and  conduct  yourself  prudently 
with  women  (1  Tim.  5:2).  Take  no  step  toward 
marriage  without  first  consulting  your  brethren. 

Believe  evil  of  no  one  without  good  evidence;  un¬ 
less  you  see  it  done,  take  heed  how  you  credit  it. 
Put  the  best  construction  on  everything.  You  know 
the  judge  is  always  supposed  to  be  on  the  prisoner's 
side. 

Speak  evil  of  no  one,  because  your  word,  especially, 
would  eat  as  doth  a  canker.  Keep  your  thoughts  with¬ 
in  your  own  breast,  till  you  come  to  the  person  con¬ 
cerned. 

Tell  every  one  under  your  care  what  you  think 
wrong  in  his  conduct  or  temper,  and  that  lovingly 
and  plainly  as  soon  as  may  be;  else  it  will  fester  in 
your  heart.  Make  all  haste  to  cast  the  fire  out  of 
your  bosom. 

Avoid  all  affectation.  A  preacher  of  the  gospel  is 
the  servant  of  all.  Be  ashamed  of  nothing  but  sin. 

Be  punctual.  Do  everything  exactly  at  the  time. 
And  do  not  mend  our  rules,  but  keep  them;  not  for 
wrath,  but  for  conscience’  sake. 

You  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  save  souls;  there¬ 
fore,  spend  and  be  spent  in  this  work;  and  go  always 
not  only  to  those  who  need  you,  but  to  those  who 
need  you  most. 

Observe,  it  is  not  only  your  business  to  preach  so 
many  times,  and  to  take  care  of  this  or  that  society, 
but  to  save  as  many  as  you  can;  to  bring  as  many 
sinners  as  you  can  to  repentance.,  and  with  all  your 
power  to  build  them  up  in  that  holiness  without  which 
they  cannot  see  the  Lord.  And  remember  that  a  Free 
Methodist  preacher  is  to  mind  every  point,  great  and 


PREACHER’S  CONDUCT 


75 


dmall,  in  the  Free  Methodist  Discipline!  Therefore, 
you  will  need  to  exercise  all  the  sense  and  grace  you 
have. 

Act  in  all  things  not  according  to  your  own  will,  but 
as  a  son  in  the  gospel.  As  such  it  is  your  duty  to 
employ  your  time  in  the  manner  in  which  we  direct; 
in  preaching,  and  visiting  from  house  to  house;  in 
reading,  meditation  and  prayer.  Above  all,  if  you 
labor  with  us  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  it  is  needful 
that  you  should  do  that  part  of  the  work  which  we 
advise,  at  those  times  and  places  which  we  judge 
most  for  his  glory. 

U  136.  The  following  smaller  advices  may  be  of 
use: 

Be  sure  never  to  disappoint  a  congregation. 

Begin  at  the  time  appointed. 

Always  suit  your  subject  to  your  audience. 

Choose  the  plainest  texts  you  can. 

Take  care  not  to  ramble,  but  keep  to  the  text,  and 
make  out  what  you  take  in  hand. 

Avoid  everything  awkward  or  affected,  in  your  ges¬ 
ture,  phrase  or  pronunciation. 

Do  not  usually  pray  more  than  eight  or  ten  minutes, 
at  most,  without  intermission. 

Frequently  read  and  enlarge  upon  a  portion  of 
scripture;  and  young  preachers  should  often  exhort 
without  taking  a  text. 

Always  avail  yourself  of  the  great  festivals,  by 
preaching  on  the  occasion. 

Let  your  deportment  be  serious,  weighty  and 
solemn. 

III.  Spiritual  Qualification 

If  137.  A  preacher  is  to  be  qualified  for  his  charge 
by  walking  closely  with  God,  and  having  his  work 
greatly  at  heart;  and  by  understanding  and  loving 
discipline,  ours  in  particular. 


76 


QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 


If  138.  We  should  frequently  ask  each  other  the 
following  questions: 

Do  you  walk  closely  with  God?  Have  you  now 
fellowship  with  the  Father  and  the  Son?  At  what 
hour  do  you  rise?  Do  you  punctually  observe  the 
morning  and  evening  hours  of  retirement?  Do  you 
spend  the  day  in  the  manner  which  the  conference 
advises?  Do  you  converse  seriously,  usefully  and 
closely? 

To  be  more  particular,  you  should  use  all  the  means 
of  grace  yourself,  and  enforce  the  use  of  them  on  all 
other  persons. 

They  are  either  instituted  or  prudential. 

The  instituted  are: 

1.  Prayer — private,  family  and  public;  consisting 
of  deprecation,  petition,  intercession  and  thanksgiv¬ 
ing. 

Do  you  use  each  of  these?  Do  you  forecast  daily, 
wherever  you  are,  to  secure  time  for  private  devo¬ 
tion?  Do  you  practise  it  everywhere?  Do  you  ask 
everywhere,  Have  you  family  prayer?  Do  you  ask 
individuals,  Do  you  use  private  prayer  every  morning 
and  evening  in  particular? 

2.  Searching  the  Scriptures — reading  regularly, 
some  part  every  day;  regularly,  all  the  Bible  in  order; 
carefully,  with  notes;  seriously,  with  prayer  before 
and  after;  fruitfully,  immediately  practising  what  you 
learn  there;  meditating,  at  set  times  and  by  rule; 
hearing  the  word  at  every  opportunity,  with  prayer, 
before,  at,  after.  Have  your  Bible  always  about 
you. 

3.  The  Lord’s  Supper.  Do  you  use  this  at  every 
opportunity?  With  solemn  prayer  before?  With  de¬ 
liberate  self-devotion? 

4.  Fasting.  Do  you  use  as  much  abstinence  and 
fasting  every  week  as  your  health,  strength  and  labor 
will  permit? 


SPIRITUAL  QUALIFICATION 


77 


5.  Christian  conference.  Are  you  convinced  how 
important  and  difficult  it  is  to  order  your  conversation 
aright?  Is  it  always  with  grace,  seasoned  with  salt, 
meet  to  minister  grace  to  the  hearers?  Do  you  con¬ 
verse  too  long  at  a  time?  Is  not  an  hour  commonly 
enough?  Would  it  not  be  well  always  to  have  a  de¬ 
termined  end  in  view,  amd  pray  before  and  after? 

The  prudential  means  we  may  use  either  as  Chris¬ 
tians,  as  Free  Methodists,  or  as  preachers. 

As  Christians,  what  particular  rules  have  you  in 
order  to  grow  in  grace?  What  arts  of  holy  living? 
As  Free  Methodists,  do  you  never  miss  your  class? 
As  preachers,  have  you  thoroughly  considered  your 
duty?  Are  you  conscientious  in  executing  every  part 
cf  it?  Do  you  meet  each  society  and  its  leaders? 

These  means  may  be  used  without  fruit.  But  there 
are  some  means  which  cannot;  namely,  watching, 
denying  ourselves,  taking  up  our  cross  and  living  al¬ 
ways  as  in  the  presence  of  God. 

Do  you  steadily  watch  against  the  world?  Your¬ 
self?  Your  besetting  sin?  Do  you  deny  yourself 
every  useless  pleasure  of  sense,  imagination,  honor? 
Are  you  temperate  in  all  things?  Instance,  in  food? 
Do  you  use  only  that  kind  and  that  degree  which  is 
best  both  for  body  and  soul?  Do  you  see  the  neces¬ 
sity  of  this?  Do  you  eat  no  more  at  each  meal  than 
is  necessary?  Are  you  not  heavy  or  drowsy  after 
dinner?  Do  you  use  only  that  kind  and  degree  of 
drink  which  is  best  both  for  the  body  and  soul?  Do 
you  choose  and  use  water  for  your  common  drink? 
And  only  take  wine  medicinally  or  sacramentally? 
Wherein  do  you  take  up  your  cross  daily?  Do  you 
cheerfully  bear  your  cross,  however  grievous  to  na¬ 
ture,  as  a  gift  of  God,  and  labor  to  profit  thereby? 
Do  you  endeavor  to  set  God  always  before  you?  To 
see  his  eye  continually  fixed  upon  you?  Never  can 
you  use  these  means  but  a  blessing  will  ensue.  And 


7S 


QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 


the  more  you  use  them,  the  more  you  will  grow  in 
grace. 


IV.  Matter  and  Manner  of  Preaching 

If  139.  The  best  general  method  of  preaching  is: 
1.  To  convince.  2.  To  offer  Christ.  3.  To  invite. 
4.  To  build  up.  5.  To  do  this  in  some  measure  in 
every  sermon. 

If  140.  The  most  effectual  way  of  preaching  Christ 
is  to  preach  him  in  all  his  offices,  and  to  declare  his 
law,  as  well  as  his  gospel,  both  to  believers  and  unbe¬ 
lievers.  Let  us  strongly  and  closely  insist  upon  in¬ 
ward  and  outward  holiness  in  all  its  branches. 

V.  Where  to  Preach 

If  141.  We  do  not  deem  it  advisable  to  preach  in 
as  many  places  as  we  can  without  forming  societies. 
We  have  made  the  trial  in  various  places,  and  that 
for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  In  all  cases  the 
seed  has  fallen  by  the  wayside.  There  is  scarcely 
any  fruit  remaining. 

1.  We  should  endeavor  to  preach  most  where  there 
is  the  greatest  number  of  quiet  and  willing  hearers, 
and  where  there  is  most  fruit. 

2.  We  ought  diligently  to  observe  in  what  places 
God  is  pleased  at  any  time  to  pour  out  his  Spirit 
more  abundantly;  and  at  that  time  to  send  more 
laborers  than  usual  into  that  part  of  the  harvest. 

VI.  Pastoral  Visitation  and  Enforcement  of  Practical 

Religion 

^  142.  We  should  endeavor  to  assist  those  under 
our  care,  and  to  aid  in  the  salvation  of  souls  by  in¬ 
structing  them  in  their  own  homes.  What  unspeak¬ 
able  need  there  is  of  this! 

We  can  but  just  touch  on  a  few  particulars.  How 


PASTORAL  VISITATION 


TO 


little  faith  is  there  among  even  professing  Christians! 
How  little  communion  with  God!  How  little  living  in 
heaven,  -walking  as  for  eternity,  deadness  to  every 
creature!  How  much  love  of  the  world,  desire  of 
pleasure,  of  ease,  of  getting  money!  How  little  broth¬ 
erly  love!  What  continual  judging  one  another!  What 
gossiping,  evil-speaking,  tale-bearing!  What  want  of 
moral  honesty !  To  instance  only  one  particular:  Who 
does  as  he  would  be  done  by  in  buying  and  selling? 

Family  religion  is  wanting  in  many  branches.  And 
what  avails  public  preaching  alone,  though  we  could 
preach  like  angels?  We  must,  yea,  every  traveling 
preacher  must  instruct  the  people  from  house  to 
house. 

Our  religion  is  not  sufficiently  deep,  or  universally 
uniform.  It  is  superficial,  partial,  uneven.  It  will  be 
so  until  we  spend  half  as  much  time  in  this  visiting, 
as  we  now  do  in  talking  uselessly.  Can  we  find  a 
better  method  of  doing  this  than  Mr.  Baxter's?  If 
not,  let  us  adopt  it  without  delay.  His  whole  tract, 
entitled,  The  Reformed  Pastor,  is  well  worth  a  care¬ 
ful  perusal.  Speaking  of  this  visiting  from  house  to 
house,  he  says:  “We  shall  find  many  hindrances, 
both  in  ourselves  and  the  people. 

1.  “In  ourselves  there  is  much  dulness  and  lazi¬ 
ness,  so  that  there  will  be  much  ado  to  get  us  to  be 
faithful  in  the  work. 

2.  “Some  of  us  have  a  foolish  bashfulness.  We 
know  not  how  to  begin,  and  blush  to  contradict  the 
devil. 

3.  “But  the  greater  hindrance  is  weakness  of  faith. 
Our  whole  motion  is  weak,  because  the  spring  of  it  is 
weak. 

4.  “Lastly,  we  are  unskilled  in  the  work.  How 
few  know  how  to  deal  with  men  so  as  to  get  within 
them,  and  suit  all  our  discourse  to  their  several  con¬ 
ditions  and  tempers;  to  choose  the  fittest  subjects, 


80  QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 

and  follow  them  with  a  holy  mixture  of  seriousness, 
terror,  love,  and  meekness?’’ 

Undoubtedly  this  private  application  is  implied  in 
those  solemn  words  of  the  apos’.le:  “I  charge  thee 
before  God  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall 
judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearing  and 
kingdom,  preach  the  word;  be  instant  in  season,  out 
of  season;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long- 
suffering.” 

O  brethren,  if  we  could  but  set  this  work  on  foot 
in  all  our  congregations,  and  prosecute  it  zealously, 
what  glory  would  redound  to  God!  If  the  common 
lukewarmness  were  banished,  and  every  shop  and 
every  house  were  busied  in  speaking  of  the  word  and 
works  of  God,  surely  God  would  dwell  in  our  habita¬ 
tions,  and  make  us  his  delight. 

H  143.  It  is  objected,  1.  “This  will  take  up  so 
much  time  we  shall  not  have  leisure  to  follow'  our 
studies.”  We  answ'er,  1.  Gaining  know’ledge  is  a 
good  thing,  but  saving  souls  is  better.  By  this  very 
thing  you  will  gain  the  most  excellent  knowledge,  that 
of  God  and  eternity.  2.  You  w'ill  have  time  for  gain¬ 
ing  other  knowledge,  too.  Only  sleep  no  more  than 
you  need;  “and  never  be  idle  or  triflingly  employed.” 
But,  3,  if  you  can  do  but  one,  let  your  studies  alone. 
We  ought  to  throw  by  all  the  libraries  of  the  world, 
rather  than  be  guilty  of  the  loss  of  one  soul. 

It  is  objected,  2.  “The  people  will  not  submit  to 
it.”  If  some  will  not,  others  will.  And  all  the  suc¬ 
cess  wuth  them  w'ill  repay  all  your  labors.  Oh,  let  us 
herein  follow’  the  example  of  St.  Paul!  1.  For  our 
general  business,  Serving  the  Lord  with  all  humility 
of  mind.  2.  Our  special  wTork,  Take  heed  to  your¬ 
selves  and  to  all  the  flock.  3.  Our  doctrine,  Repent¬ 
ance  tow'ard  God  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
4.  The  place,  I  have  taught  you  publicly,  and  from 
house  to  house.  5.  The  object  and  manner  of  teach- 


PASTORAL  VISITATION 


81 


ing,  I  ceased  not  to  warn  every  one  night  and  day, 
with  tears.  6.  His  innocence  and  self-denial  herein, 
I  have  coveted  no  man's  silver  or  gold.  7.  His  pa¬ 
tience,  Neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself.  And 
among  all  other  motives,  let  these  be  ever  before  our 
eyes:  1.  The  Church  which  he  hath  purchased  with 
his  own  blood.  2.  Grievous  wolves  shall  enter  in; 
yea,  of  your  own  selves  shall  men  arise,  speaking 
perverse  things. 

Write  this  upon  your  hearts,  and  it  will  do  you 
more  good  than  twenty  years’  study.  Then  you  will 
have  no  time  to  spare;  you  will  have  work  enough. 
Then,  likewise,  no  preacher  will  stay  with  us  who  is 
as  salt  that  has  lost  its  savor.  For  to  such,  this 
employment  will  be  mere  drudgery.  And  in  order  to 
do  it,  you  will  have  need  of  all  the  knowledge  you 
can  procure,  and  all  the  grace  you  can  obtain. 

If  144.  The  sum  is,  Go  into  every  house  in  course, 
and  teach  every  one  therein,  young  and  old,  to  be 
Christians,  inwardly  and  outwardly.  Make  every  par¬ 
ticular  plain  to  their  understandings.  Fix  it  in  their 
minds,  write  it  on  their  hearts.  In  order  to  do  this, 
there  must  be  line  upon  line,  precept  upon  precept. 
What  patience,  what  love,  what  knowledge  is  req¬ 
uisite  for  this!  We  must  needs  do  this,  were  it  only 
to  avoid  idleness.  Do  we  not  loiter  away  many  hours 
in  every  week?  Each  try  himself.  No  idleness  is 
consistent  with  a  growth  in  grace.  Nay,  without 
exactness  in  redeeming  time,  you  cannot  retain  the 
grace  you  received  in  justification. 

^f  145.  Why  are  we  not  more  holy?  Why  do  we 
not  live  as  for  eternity?  Why  do  we  not  walk  with 
God  all  the  day  long?  Why  are  we  not  all  devoted  to 
doing  good,  breathing  the  whole  spirit  of  missionaries? 

Chiefly  because  we  do  not  properly  use  the  means. 
1.  How  few  wait  upon  the  Lord  in  secret  prayer  until 
bis  blessing  comes  on  the  soul?  2.  Do  we  know  the 


QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 


S2 

obligation  and  benefit  of  fasting  and  abstinence?  3. 
How  often  do  we  practise  it?  4.  How  little  there  is 
of  self-denial?  5.  How  few  bring  their  tithes  and 
offerings  into  the  storehouse  of  the  Lord?  6.  How 
much  there  is  of  consecration  to  our  own  wills  in¬ 
stead  of  to  the  will  of  the  Lord?  7.  How  few  mani¬ 
fest  a  disposition  to  submit  themselves  one  to  an¬ 
other?  8.  What  a  want  there  is  of  properly  govern¬ 
ing  the  tongue?  The  neglect  of  these  alone  is  suffi¬ 
cient  to  account  for  our  feebleness  and  faintness  of 
spirit.  We  should  amend  from  this  hour. 

II  146.  How  shall  we  guard  against  Sabbath  break¬ 
ing.  evil  speaking,  unprofitable  conversation,  lightness, 
expensiveness  or  gayety  of  apparel,  and  contracting 
debts  without  due  care  to  discharge  them? 

1.  We  should  preach  expressly  on  each  of  these 
heads.  2.  Read  in  every  society  the  sermon  on  evil 
speaking.  3.  The  leaders  should  closely  examine  and 
exhort  every  person  to  put  away  the  accursed  thing. 
4.  The  preachers  should  warn  every  society  that  none 
who  is  guilty  herein  can  remain  with  us.  5.  Extir¬ 
pate  from  our  church  all  buying  or  selling  of  goods 
which  have  not  paid  the  duty  laid  upon  them  by  gov¬ 
ernment.  6.  Extirpate  bribery,  receiving  anything, 
directly  or  indirectly,  for  voting  at  any  election.  7. 
Strongly  advise  our  people  to  discountenance  all 
treats  given  by  candidates  before  or  at  elections,  and 
not  to  be  partakers  in  any  respect  of  such  practises. 
Show  no  respect  to  persons  herein,  but  expel  all  that 
touch  the  accursed  thing. 

VII.  Employment  of  Time 

H  147.  We  advise  you,  1.  As  often  as  possible, 
to  rise  at  five.  2.  From  five  to  six  in  the  morning, 
and  from  five  to  six  in  the  evening,  to  meditate,  pray, 
and  read  the  Scriptures  with  notes,  and  the  closely 


UNION  AMONG  OURSELVES 


S3 


practical  parts  of  what  Mr.  Wesley  has  published.  3. 
From  seven  in  the  morning  till  twelve  (allowing  one 
hour  for  breakfast)  read  with  much  prayer,  some  of 
our  best  religious  books. 

Other  reasons  may  concur  why  the  people  under 
our  care  are  not  better,  but  the  chief  is,  because  we 
are  not  more  knowing  and  more  holy. 

But  why  are  we  not  more  knowing?  Because  we 
are  idle.  We  forget  our  first  rule,  “Be  diligent. 
Never  be  unemployed.  Never  be  triflingly  employed. 
Neither  spend  any  more  time  at  any  place  than  is 
strictly  necessary.”  We  fear  there  is  altogether  a 
fault  in  this  matter,  and  that  few  of  us  are  clear. 
Which  of  us  spend  as  many  hours  a  day  in  God's  work 
as  we  did  formerly  in  man’s  work?  We  talk — talk  or 
read  what  comes  next  to  hand.  We  must,  absolutely 
must,  cure  this  evil,  or  betray  the  cause  of  God.  But 
how?  1.  Read  the  most  useful  books,  and  that  regu¬ 
larly  and  constantly.  2.  Steadily  spend  all  the  morn¬ 
ing  in  this  employment,  or  at  least  five  hours  in  the 
four  and  twrenty.  “But  I  have  no  taste  for  reading.” 
Contract  a  taste  for  it  by  use,  or  return  to  your 
former  employment.  “But  I  have  no  books.”  Be 
diligent  to  spread  the  books,  and  you  will  have  the 
use  of  them. 

VIII.  Union  Among  Ourselves 

K  148.  We  should  be  deeply  sensible,  from  what 
we  have  known,  of  the  evil  of  division  in  principle, 
spirit,  or  practise,  and  of  the  dreadful  consequences 
to  ourselves  and  others.  If  we  are  united,  what  can 
stand  before  us?  If  we  divide,  we  shall  destroy  our¬ 
selves,  the  work  of  God,  and  the  souls  of  our  people. 

In  order  to  a  closer  uLion  with  each  other, 

1.  We  should  be  deeply  convinced  of  the  absolute 
necessity  of  it.  2.  Pray  earnestly  for,  and  speak 


84 


QUALIFICATIONS  AND  WORK 


freely  to  each  other.  3.  When  we  meet,  let  us  never 
part  without  prayer.  4.  Take  care  not  to  despise 
each  other’s  gifts.  5.  Never  speak  lightly  of  one 
another.  6.  Defend  one  another’s  character  in  every¬ 
thing,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with  truth.  7.  Labor  in 
honor  each  to  prefer  the  other  before  himself.  8. 
We  recommend  a  serious  perusal  of  The  Causes,  Evils 
and  Cures  of  Heart  and  Church  Divisions. 

I  X.  U nion  with  Others 

If  149.  We  have  Christian  fellowship  and  love  for 
all  persons  of  whatever  denomination,  who  show  by 
their  lives  that  they  “follow  peace  with  all  men,  and 
holiness  without  which  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord.” 
We  will  unite  with  all  well  disposed  persons,  in  an 
open,  Christian  manner,  in  promoting  social  and  civil 
reforms.  But  we  cannot  unite,  where  we  are  re¬ 
quired  to  compromise  our  principles,  in  holding  unioD 
meetings  with  any  person,  or  denomination,  whose 
practical  standard  of  Christian  character  and  church 
fellowship,  is  obviously  below  that  plainly  set  forth 
in  the  New  Testament. 


CHAPTER  II 


MINISTERS  AND  ANNUAL  CONFERENCES 
I.  Reception  on  Trial 

II  >50.  1.  A  preacher  may  be  received  on  trial 

by  an  annual  conference  after  passing  a  satisfactory 
examination  in  the  prescribed  course  of  study,  and 
after  having  been  duly  recommended  by  a  quarterly 
conference;  and  when  so  received  he  shall  receive 
from  the  annual  conference  a  certificate  of  his  rela¬ 
tion,  signed  by  the  president  and  secretary.  But  the 
requirements  of  this  paragraph  shall  not  be  so  fully 
enforced  as  to  preclude  the  reception  of  a  person  con¬ 
verted  or  called  to  preach  in  middle  life,  who,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  annual  conference,  is  possessed  of 
natural  gifts  and  graces  such  as  to  promise  at  least 
a  fair  degree  of  success  in  the  work  of  God;  such 
exceptions  in  all  cases  to  follow  the  unanimous  recom¬ 
mendation  of  the  stationing  committee. 

2.  A  preacher  on  trial  in  the  annual  conference 
shall  hold  his  church  membership  in  the  annual  con¬ 
ference  and  be  counted  with  the  preachers,  but  shall 
not  be  entitled  to  vote. 

II.  Reception  into  Full  Membership 

U  151.  A  traveling  preacher  may  be  received  into 
full  membership  after  having  been  employed  in  the 
regular  itinerant  work  two  successive  years  subse¬ 
quent  to  his  reception  on  trial  by  an  annual  confer¬ 
ence,  and  after  passing  a  satisfactory  examination  in 
the  required  course  of  study,  and  giving  satisfactory 
answers  to  the  following  questions,  namely: 


85 


MINISTERS  AND  CONFERENCES 


8  G 


1.  Have  you  faith  in  Christ? 

2.  Have  you  present  assurance  of  sins  forgiven? 

3.  Do  you  believe  in  Christian  perfection? 

4.  Have  you  attained  to  this  rich  experience  in 
your  own  heart,  (If  not)  Are  you  groaning  after  it? 

5.  Are  you  resolved  to  devote  yourself  wholly  to 
God  and  his  work? 

6.  Do  you  know  the  general  rules?  Do  you  keep 
them  ? 

7.  Do  you  regularly  attend  the  sacrament? 

8.  Have  you  read  our  Discipline? 

9.  Are  you  willing  to  conform  to  it? 

10.  Have  you  considered  the  rules  for  a  preacher? 

11.  Will  you  keep  them  for  conscience1  sake? 

12.  Are  you  determined  to  employ  all  your  time 
in  the  work  of  God? 

13.  Will  you  endeavor  not  to  speak  too  long  or 
too  loud? 

14.  Will  you  diligently  instruct  the  children  in 
every  place? 

15.  Will  you  visit  from  house  to  house? 

16.  Will  you  recommend  fasting,  or  abstinence, 
both  by  precept  and  example? 

17.  Are  you  in  debt? 

III.  Reception  from  Other  Denominations 

1 52.  1.  Ministers  from  other  evangelical 

churches  who  desire  to  unite  with  our  church  may 
be  received  according  to  our  usages,  on  condition  of 
their  giving  satisfactory  answers  to  the  questions 
which  we  propose  to  our  own  members  and  ministers 
before  receiving  them  into  full  membership  and  of 
their  giving  satisfaction  to  an  annual  conference  of 
their  being  in  orders,  and  of  their  agreement  with  us 
in  doctrine,  discipline,  government  and  usages;  pro¬ 
vided  the  conference  is  also  satisfied  with  their  gifts, 
graces  and  usefulness. 


MINISTERS  AND  CONFERENCES 


87 


2.  Every  minister,  whether  local  or  itinerant, 
whose  ordination  is  recognized  by  an  annual  confer¬ 
ence,  shall  be  entitled  to  a  parchment  from  the  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  conference,  certifying  the  fact  of  his 
ordination. 


IV.  Termination  of  Conference  Membership 

153.  1.  By  voluntary  location. 

2.  By  location  through  action  of  the  conference, 
under  the  provisions  of  paragraph  116. 

3.  By  ceasing  to  travel  or  do  the  work  assigned, 
without  the  proper  consent.  See  paragraph  157. 

4.  By  withdrawal  with  consent  of  the  conference. 
See  paragraphs  122  (12),  427. 

154.  When  satisfactory  evidence  shall  have  been 
received  that  a  conference  minister  has  united  with 
another  denomination  without  having  requested  or 
received  from  our  church  proper  credentials  of  with¬ 
drawal,  he  may  be  declared  withdrawn  by  a  majority 
vote  of  the  conference.  No  minister  leaving  the 
church  after  complaints  have  been  lodged  against  him 
shall,  if  by  any  means  he  regain  membership  in  the 
church,  be  allowed  to  exercise  any  of  the  functions 
of  the  ministerial  office  until  legal  satisfaction  shall 
have  been  given  the  conference  to  which  he  belonged 
at  the  time  of  leaving  the  church.* 

*  In  case  an  ordained  minister  in  good  standing  in  the 
Free  Methodist  church  unites  with  another  church,  or  is 
granted  his  request  to  withdraw  from  the  Free  Methodist 
church,  he  shall  deposit  his  parchments  with  the  secre¬ 
tary  of  the  conference,  who  shall  give  him  a  receipt  for 
the  same.  If  an  ordained  preacher  shall  be  expelled 
from  the  church,  or  be  permitted  to  withdraw  under 
charges,  he  thereby  forfeits  his  parchments  and  they 
shall  be  deposited  with  the  secretary  of  the  conference 
from  which  he  withdrew  or  was  expelled.  If  he  re¬ 
fuses  or  neglects  so  to  deposit  them,  the  conference  shall 
by  official  action  declare  them  forfeited. 


CHAPTER  III 


I.  DEACONS  AND  ELDERS 

J[  155.  Traveling  Deacons:  1.  A  minister  who 
has  been  employed  in  the  regular  itinerant  work  for 
two  successive  years  after  his  reception  on  trial,  and 
who  has  passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  the 
required  course  of  study,  may  be  constituted  a  travel¬ 
ing  deacon  by  the  election  of  a  majority  of  the  con¬ 
ference,  and  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  presi¬ 
dent.  In  the  case  of  foreign  missions  the  conference 
shall  have  authority  to  elect  him  to  the  deacon’s  office 
sooner  if  they  judge  it  expedient. 

2.  It  is  the  duty  of  a  deacon  to  baptize,  to  offi¬ 
ciate  in  marriage  ceremonies,  to  assist  the  elder  in 
administering  the  Lord’s  Supper,  and,  when  appointed 
to  a  charge,  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  a  traveling 
preacher. 

156.  Traveling  Elders:  1.  Every  traveling  dea¬ 
con  shall  exercise  that  office  two  years  before  he  is 
eligible  to  the  office  of  elder,  except  in  the  case  of 
missions,  when  the  conference  shall  have  authority 
to  elect  him  to  the  elder's  office  sooner  if  they  judge 
it  expedient.  A  traveling  deacon  shall  be  constituted 
a  traveling  elder  by  the  election  of  a  majority  of  the 
conference  and  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the 
president  and  some  of  the  elders  present,  after  having 
passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  the  required 
course  of  study. 

2.  It  is  the  duty  of  an  elder  to  administer  bap- 


88 


DEACONS  AND  ELDERS 


SO 


tisro  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  to  officiate  in  marriage 
ceremonies  and  all  parts  of  divine  worship,  and,  when 
appointed  to  a  charge,  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  a 
traveling  preacher.  Among  our  unordained  preach¬ 
ers  only  those  in  charge  of  circuits  by  the  appoint¬ 
ment  of  a  stationing  committee  may  solemnize  mar¬ 
riage.  This  rule  shall  apply  only  in  those  states 
whose  laws  permit  unordained  preachers  to  perform 
such  ceremony. 

1 57.  No  elder  or  deacon  who  ceases  to  travel, 
without  the  consent  of  the  annual  conference,  certi¬ 
fied  under  the  hand  of  the  president  of  the  conference, 
except  in  case  of  sickness,  inability,  or  other  urn 
avoidable  circumstances,  shall  on  any  account  exer¬ 
cise  the  peculiar  functions  of  his  office,  or  even  be 
allowed  to  preach  among  us;  nevertheless,  the  final 
determination  in  all  such  cases  is  with  the  annual 
conference. 


CHAPTER  IV 


BISHOPS 

IT  158.  The  general  conference  shall  elect  by  bal¬ 
lot  one  or  more  traveling  elders  as  bishops,  who 
shall  remain  in  office  during  the  quadrennium  and  un¬ 
til  others  shall  be  elected  in  their  places. 

TT  159.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  bishops: 

1.  To  travel  through  the  connection  at  large. 

2.  To  oversee  the  spiritual  and  temporal  interests 
of  our  church,  and  to  labor  to  promote  its  purity, 
peace  and  prosperity. 

3.  To  establish  new  societies. 

4.  To  receive  and  suspend  preachers,  according  to 
the  provisions  of  the  Discipline. 

5.  To  change  preachers  from  one  district  to  an¬ 
other,  where  the  districts  are  presided  over  by  dif¬ 
ferent  elders,  with  the  consent  of  the  preacher  to  be 
removed  and  of  the  district  elders,  and  a  majority 
of  the  official  board  of  the  circuit  from  which  he  is  to 
be  removed. 

6.  To  transfer  a  preacher  from  one  conference  to 
another,  with  the  consent  of  the  preacher  and  of  the 
conference  to  which  he  is  transferred;  provided,  that 
no  preacher  shall  be  transferred  to  another  confer¬ 
ence  without  a  certificate  of  his  good  standing  and 
general  acceptability,  given  by  his  annual  or  quarterly 
conference. 

7.  To  form  new  conferences  in  the  intervals  of 
general  conferences,  as  the  wants  of  the  work  may 
demand,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  general  con- 


90 


BISHOPS 


91 


ference;  provided,  that  no  new  conference  shall  be 
formed  without  the  consent  of  the  conference  whose 
territory  is  affected,  and  also,  without  the  consent  of 
at  least  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  the  executive 
committee;  provided,  also,  that  no  new  conference 
shall  be  organized  with  less  than  five  preachers  in  full 
membership  and  one  hundred  full  members  within  its 
bounds. 

8.  To  preside  at  the  sessions  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference,  the  executive  committee,  the  annual  confer¬ 
ences,  and  at  the  trial  of  appeals  taken  from  quarter¬ 
ly  or  annual  conferences,  and  to  decide  all  questions 
of  law  therein,  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  general 
conference. 

9.  The  bishops  shall  estimate  the  amount  neces¬ 
sary  to  pay  the  expenses  of  delegates  to  the  general 
conference,  and  shall  apportion  the  same  among  the 
several  conferences.  Any  annual  conference  deficient 
in  its  apportionment  shall  have  such  deficit  deducted 
from  the  amount  appropriated  for  the  expenses  of  its 
delegates  to  the  general  conference. 

10.  The  bishops  shall  be  amenable  to  the  general 
conference  for  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties, 
and  for  their  Christian  conduct  to  the  annual  con¬ 
ferences  to  which  they  respectively  belong. 


CHAPTER  \ 


DISTRICT  ELDERS 

If  160.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  district  elder: 

1.  To  look  after  the  spiritual  and  temporal  in¬ 
terests  of  the  church  within  his  district;  to  take  the 
charge  of  all  circuits  without  a  preacher,  and  the 
oversight  of  the  work  on  his  district,  according  to 
the  Discipline. 

2.  To  see  that  every  part  of  the  Discipline  is  duly 

enforced.  ^ 

3.  To  visit  every  circuit  on  his  district  whenever 
he  may  judge  it  expedient.  The  district  elder  is 
especially  directed  and  required  to  visit  any  circuit 
in  his  district,  when  so  requested  by  the  official  board, 
in  case  of  any  dispute  or  difficulty,  or  any  emergency 
that  may  arise.  In  such  cases  he  shall  have  power  to 
call  an  official,  society  or  circuit  meeting,  and  to  pre¬ 
side  over  the  same.  The  circuit  sending  for  him  shall 
pay  his  traveling  expenses. 

4.  To  hold  four  general  quarterly  meetings  in  his 
district  during  each  year. 

5.  To  hold  quarterly  meetings  once  in  three  months 
in  each  circuit  within  his  district,  and  to  labor  as  an 
evangelist  within  his  district,  if  in  the  judgment  of 
the  annual  conference  the  cause  of  God  can  be  best 
served  thereby.  He  shall  also  make  a  statement  of 
the  growth  and  progress  of  the  work  on  the  district 
at  each  general  quarterly  meeting. 

6.  When  a  district  has  a  traveling  district  elder 
he  may  hold  an  official,  circuit,  or  society  meeting  on 


92 


DISTRICT  ELDERS 


93 


each  circuit,  in  connection  with  his  quarterly  meet¬ 
ings;  or  he  may  appoint  a  supply  subject  to  the  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  pastor. 

7.  To  appoint,  receive,  suspend  and  change 
preachers  in  his  district  or  districts  in  the  intervals 
of  the  conference  sessions;  provided  he  shall  not 
change  any  preacher  contrary  to  his  wishes,  unless 
by  the  request  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  the 
circuit;  provided  also  that  a  preacher  shall  not  be  ap¬ 
pointed  to  a  circuit  without  the  concurrence  of  the 
official  board  of  that  circuit. 

8.  To  see  that  deeds  of  lands  upon  which  it  may 
be  proposed  to  build  any  church  or  parsonage  within 
the  bounds  of  his  district  are  properly  made  out  and 
recorded,  or  that  a  good  and  sufficient  bond  or  con¬ 
tract  is  given  for  such  deed  before  such  building  is 
begun. 

9.  To  give  the  bishop  all  the  necessary  informa¬ 
tion  of  the  state  of  his  district. 

10.  The  district  elder  shall  not  have  power  to  em¬ 
ploy  a  preacher  that  has  been  rejected  by  the  annual 
conference,  without  permission  of  said  conference. 

11.  The  district  elder  may,  with  the  consent  of 
the  preacher  in  charge  and  the  official  board,  divide 
a  circuit  in  the  intervals  of  the  annual  conference,  if 
the  interests  of  the  work  require  it. 

12.  No  district  elder  shall  preside  over  the  same 
district  in  the  same  conference  more  than  four  years 
in  succession,  nor  shall  any  minister  serve  in  the 
office  of  district  elder  in  any  conference  for  a  term 
exceeding  eight  consecutive  years.  The  total  num¬ 
ber  of  years  served  by  any  district  elder  consecutively 
up  to  the  time  of  the  next  annual  conference,  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  following  the  general  conference 
(1919),  shall  be  reckoned  on  the  period  of  eight  years’ 
consecutive  service  to  which  said  district  elder  is  lim¬ 
ited. 


94 


DISTRICT  ELDERS 


13.  Traveling  district  elders  shall  be  elected  by 
ballot  in  open  conference,  without  debate,  and  shall 
be  assigned  to  their  respective  districts  either  by  an 
election  to  the  districts  direct  or  by  appointment  by 
the  stationing  committee,  as  the  conference  shall  de¬ 
cide. 

14.  Stationed  district  elders  shall  be  nominated  by 
ballot  by  the  stationing  committee,  and  elected  by 
ballot  in  open  conference,  without  debate. 

15.  In  case  there  should  be  a  vacancy  in  the  office 
of  district  elder  during  the  interval  of  the  sessions 
of  any  annual  conference,  the  bishop  who  presided  (or 
who  was  to  have  presided)  or  his  successor,  shall 
have  power  to  fill  such  vacancy,  subject  to  the  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  ensuing  quarterly  conference  of  the  dis¬ 
trict;  but  if  such  vacancy  should  be  filled  after  the 
last  session  of  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  con¬ 
ference  year,  then  the  secretary  of  the  quarterly  con¬ 
ference  shall  have  power  to  call  a  special  session  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  confirming  the  appointment  of  the 
president. 

16.  Whenever  in  the  judgment  of  an  annual  con¬ 
ference  the  interests  of  the  work  can  be  best  sub¬ 
served  thereby,  the  same  district  elder  may  be  ap¬ 
pointed  to  more  than  one  district  at  the  same  time. 

17.  The  district  elder  shall  be  a  member  of  the 
quarterly  conference  on  the  district  which  he  serves; 
and,  in  case  he  be  appointed  to  two  or  more  districts, 
the  stationing  committee  shall  fix  his  quarterly  con¬ 
ference  relation. 

18.  The  district  elder  shall  be  supported  by  the 
district  to  which  he  is  elected,  each  circuit  contrib¬ 
uting  its  proportion  as  agreed  upon  by  the  quarterly 
conference.  In  case  he  is  elected  stationed  district 
elder  he  shall  be  supported  by  the  circuit  to  which 
he  is  appointed.  We  recommend  a  district  budget  for 
traveling  district  elder's  support. 


CHAPTER  VI 


PASTORS,  OR  PREACHERS  IN  CHARGE 

Tf  161.  The  duties  of  a  preacher  who  has  the  charge 
of  a  circuit  are,  1.  To  receive  and  dismiss  members 
according  to  the  Discipline;  provided,  however,  that 
no  person  shall  be  recorded  on  the  register  as  “with¬ 
drawn  at  his  own  request”  until  such  action  is  ap¬ 
proved  by  the  official  board. 

2.  To  see  that  the  other  preachers  in  his  circuit 
behave  well,  and  need  nothing. 

3.  To  examine  each  of  the  leaders  concerning  his 
method  of  leading  his  class,  observe  which  leaders 
are  the  most  useful  and  have  these  meet  the  other 
classes  as  often  as  possible,  and  see  that  all  the  lead¬ 
ers  are  persons  not  only  of  sound  judgment,  but  truly 
devoted  to  God.  See  also  paragraph  176  (4). 

4.  To  hold  watch-nights  and  love-feasts,  and  to 
see  that  the  sacrament  is  administered  at  least  once 
in  three  months. 

5.  To  take  care  that  every  society  is  duly  supplied 
with  books. 

6.  To  take  an  exact  account  of  all  members  in 
the  societies  of  their  respective  circuits,  keeping  the 
names  of  all  local  elders,  deacons  and  preachers 
properly  distinguished,  and  deliver  such  account  to 
the  annual  conference,  that  their  number  may  be 
printed  in  the  minutes. 

7.  To  give  an  account  of  his  circuit  every  quarter 
to  the  quarterly  conference. 

8.  To  report  to  the  society,  at  least  once  a  quarter, 


95 


96 


PASTORS  IN  CHARGE 


tbe  names  of  those  who  have  been  received  into  the 
church,  or  excluded  therefrom  during  the  quarter, 
also  the  names  of  those  who  have  been  received  or 
dismissed  by  certificate,  and  those  who  have  died  or 
withdrawn  from  the  church. 

9.  To  make  a  regular  catalogue  of  the  societies  in 
towns  and  cities,  giving  the  residence  of  each  member 
by  street  and  number. 

10.  To  leave  his  successor  a  particular  account  of 
the  circuit,  including  an  account  of  the  subscribers 
for  our  periodicals. 

11.  To  enforce  vigorously,  but  calmly,  all  the  rules 
of  the  society. 

12.  As  soon  as  there  are  four  believers  in  any 
place  to  put  them  into  a  class. 

13.  To  meet  the  societies  and  classes;  to  visit 
the  sick;  to  visit  all  members  and  probationers  on  his 
circuit,  at  least  once  in  three  months,  and  all  members 
of  his  congregation  whenever  practicable;  to  preach 
out  of  doors  wherever  an  attentive  congregation  can 
be  found;  to  raise  money  for  the  purchase  of  tracts 
and  attend  to  their  distribution  upon  his  circuit;  to 
see  that  all  the  collections  ordered  by  the  conference 
are  raised  in  full.  All  members  shall  pay  their  claims 
for  the  entire  year  to  the  circuit  from  which  they 
were  last  reported  to  an  annual  conference. 

14.  To  warn  all  from  time  to  time,  that  none  are 

to  remove  from  one  circuit  to  another  without  a  cer¬ 

tificate  from  the  preacher  in  charge. 

15.  To  recommend  everywhere  decency  and  cleanli¬ 
ness.  . 

16.  To  read  the  rules  of  the  society,  with  the 

aid  of  the  other  preachers,  once  a  year  in  every  con¬ 

gregation,  and  once  a  quarter  in  every  society. 

17.  To  see  that  the  trustees  are  duly  elected  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  law  of  the  state;  and  that  the  real 


PASTORS  IN  CHARGE 


97 


estate  belonging  to  the  church  is  duly  secured  accord¬ 
ing  to  law. 

18.  To  see  that  no  steps  be  taken  involving  the 
circuit  in  financial  liability,  without  the  consent  of 
the  official  board. 

19.  To  warn  the  people  of  the  evil  consequences 
to  themselves  and  the  Church  of  God,  of  covetous¬ 
ness  and  withholding  of  their  means  from  supporting 
the  gospel,  and  to  urge  upon  all  systematic  and  pro¬ 
portionate  giving,  and  to  preach  upon  the  same,  en¬ 
couraging  our  people  to  tithe  their  incomes. 

20.  To  see  that  a  fast  be  held  in  every  society 
in  his  circuit,  on  the  Friday  preceding  •  every  quar¬ 
terly  meeting. 

21.  To  execute  all  the  rules  fully  and  strenuously 
against  all  frauds,  and  particularly  against  dishonest 
insolvencies,  secret  societies,  labor  and  capitalistic  or¬ 
ganizations,  contravening  paragraph  73,  suffering 
none  to  remain  in  our  church,  on  any  account,  who 
are  found  guilty  thereof. 

22.  Treachers  in  charge  of  circuits  who  are  not 
members  of  a  conference  shall  not  employ  evangelists 
who  are  not  members  of  our  church,  without  first 
consulting  with  and  securing  the  consent  of  the  dis¬ 
trict  elder  in  charge  and  of  the  official  board. 

IT  162.  During  the  sittings  of  the  conferences  all 
appointments  should  stand  according  to  the  plan  of 
the  circuit.  Engage  as  many  local  preachers  and  ex- 
horters  as  will  supply  them;  and  pay  them  for  their 
time  in  proportion  to  the  allowances  of  the  traveling 
preachers.  If  preachers  and  exhorters  cannot  attend, 
let  some  person  of  ability  be  appointed  in  every  so¬ 
ciety  to  sing,  pray  and  read  one  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  ser¬ 
mons.  Rut  if  that  cannot  be  done,  let  there  be  prayer 
meetings. 


CHAPTER  VII 


SUPERNUMERARY  AND  SUPERANNUATED 

PREACHERS 

ft  1 63.  A  supernumerary  preacher  is  a  member  of 
an  annual  conference  'whose  efficiency  is  temporarily 
impaired,  and  whose  relation  as  a  supernumerary  is 
fixed  by  a  vote  of  his  conference  on  recommendation 
of  the  stationing  committee.  In  no  case  shall  he 
have  any  claim  on  the  superannuated  fund.  His  quar¬ 
terly  conference  relation  shall  be  determined  by  the 
stationing  committee. 

164.  A  superannuated  preacher  is  one  who  is  so 
disqualified  by  physical  disability  or  old  age  that  he 
cannot  take  charge  of  a  circuit  or  occupy  any  posi¬ 
tion  in  the  church  which  will  afford  him  sufficient  in¬ 
come  for  his  support.  The  question  as  to  his  dis¬ 
ability  shall  be  determined  by  his  conference,  on  the 
recommendation  of  the  committee  on  claimants  and 
claims.  His  quarterly  conference  relation  shall  be 
fixed  by  the  stationing  committee. 

If,  in  the  interval  of  conference,  a  supernumerary 
or  a  superannuated  preacher  moves  where  attendance 
at  the  quarterly  conference  in  which  his  relation  was 
fixed  is  inconvenient,  upon  his  request  he  may  be 
transferred  to  any  convenient  quarterly  conference 
by  its  district  elder,  with  the  consent  of  that  quar¬ 
terly  conference. 


98 


LOCAL 


PART  Y 

PREACHERS  AND  LAY 
HELPERS 


CHAPTERS 

I.  LOCAL  PREACHERS 

II.  EVANGELISTS 

III.  EXHORTERS 

IV.  DEACONESSES 

V.  BANDS  AND  BAND  WORKER.. 

VI.  CLASS  LEADERS 

VII.  STEWARDS 


CHAPTEK  I 


LOCAL  PREACHERS 

If  1 65.  The  quarterly  conference  shall  take  cog¬ 
nizance  of  all  the  local  preachers  in  the  district,  and 
shall  inquire  into  the  gifts,  labors,  and  usefulness  of 
each  preacher  by  name. 

1 66.  A  licensed  local  preacher  shall  be  eligible 
to  the  office  of  deacon  after  he  has  preached  four 
years  from  the  time  he  received  a  regular  license, 
and  has  obtained  a  recommendation  from  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference,  after  proper  examination  as  to  his 
Christian  character,  his  usefulness  as  a  preacher,  aim 
after  he  has  passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  the 
prescribed  course  of  study. 

If  167.  A  local  deacon  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office 
of  elder  after  he  has  preached  four  years  from  the 
time  he  was  ordained  a  deacon,  and  has  obtained  a 
recommendation  from  the  quarterly  conference  of 
which  he  is  a  member,  certifying  his  qualifications  in 
doctrine,  discipline,  talents  and  usefulness,  and  has 
passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  the  prescribed 
course  of  study. 

168.  Every  local  elder,  deacon  or  preacher  shall 
be  amenable  to  the  quarterly  conference  where  he 
belongs  for  his  Christian  character  and  the  faithful 
performance  of  his  ministerial  office.  He  shall  have 
his  name  recorded  on  the  journal  of  said  conference, 
and  also  enrolled  on  a  class  paper,  and  shall  meet  in 
class;  and  in  neglect  of  the  above  duties,  or  neglect 
to  pass  a  satisfactory  examination  in  the  prescribed 


101 


102 


LOCAL  PREACHERS 


course  of  study,  the  quarterly  conference,  if  they 
judge  it  proper,  may  deprive  him  of  his  ministerial 
office;  provided,  no  ordained  local  preacher  shall  be 
deprived  of  his  ministerial  functions  without  due 
form  of  trial  and  conviction. 

]f  169.  Let  the  appointments  be  so  arranged  as 
to  give  the  local  preachers  regular  and  systematic 
employment  on  the  Sabbath. 

If  170.  When  a  local  preacher  or  evangelist  is  em¬ 
ployed  as  a  supply,  his  membership  shall  be  on  the 
charge  where  he  labors.  He  shall  take  a  regular 
church  letter  whenever  he  may  be  so  employed  out¬ 
side  of  the  district  where  his  membership  may  be, 

If  171.  The  examination  of  local  preachers  may  be 
conducted  orally. 


CHAPTER  II 


EVANGELISTS 

Tf  172.  Evangelists  are  a  class  of  preachers  called 
of  God  to  preach  the  gospel,  to  labor  to  promote 
revivals  of  religion,  and  to  spread  abroad  the  cause 
of  Christ  in  the  land;  but  not  in  all  cases  called 
to  a  pastoral  charge  or  to  government  in  the  church. 

1.  Any  brother  or  sister  in  good  standing  in  our 
church,  feeling  called  of  God  to  this  work,  may,  upon 
recommendation  of  the  society  to  which  he  belongs, 
be  licensed  by  the  quarterly  conference,  after  due 
examination,  according  to  paragraph  134  of  our  Dis¬ 
cipline,  entitled  “Examination  of  Those  Who  Think 
They  Are  Moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  Preach.”  Such 
evangelists  shall  be  members  of  the  quarterly  confer¬ 
ence,  amenable  to  it,  and  shall  pass  an  examination 
in  the  course  of  study  for  local  preachers. 

2.  Those  who  labor  successfully  as  evangelists  for 
the  period  of  four  years,  may,  upon  recommendation 
of  the  quarterly  conference,  be  licensed  by  the  an¬ 
nual  conference;  and  such  license  shall  hold  good  un¬ 
til  revoked  by  the  action  of  said  annual  conference. 

3.  A  woman  who  has  been  duly  licensed  as  an 
evangelist  may  be  received  into  an  annual  confer¬ 
ence  as  a  traveling  preacher  under  certain  conditions, 
according  to  paragraph  120  of  the  Discipline. 

4.  When  women  evangelists  have  been  licensed  by 
the  annual  conference,  and  have  served  two  suc¬ 
cessive  years  under  appointment  as  pastors,  they  may, 
upon  recommendation  of  the  quarterly  conference  of 


103 


104 


EVANGELISTS 


which  they  are  members,  and  at  the  option  of  the  an¬ 
nual  conference,  have  a  voice  and  vote  in  the  annual 
conference;  and  in  the  transaction  of  conference 
business  they  shall  be  counted  with  the  preachers. 
This  relation  shall  continue  only  while  they  receive 
appointments  as  pastors. 

5.  The  general  conference  may  elect  general  evan¬ 
gelists,  who  shall  travel  through  the  country  at  large, 
subject  to  the  direction  of  the  general  missionary 
board  (except  in  those  cases  where  the  general  con¬ 
ference  shall  appoint  them  to  special  fields),  open  new 
fields  of  labor,  organize  new  societies,  and  provide 
and  place  over  them,  temporarily,  pastors,  prepara¬ 
tory  to  the  organization  of  new  conferences  where  we 
have  none.  If  they  shall  form  new  societies  in  any 
of  our  existing  conferences,  such  societies  shall  be 
under  the  care  of  the  district  elder  of  the  adjacent 
district. 

6.  The  general  evangelist  shall  have  the  over¬ 
sight  of  other  evangelists  laboring  in  immediate  con¬ 
nection  with  him. 

7.  Such  evangelist  shall  be  amenable  to  the  annual 
conference  to  which  he  belongs. 

8.  No  evangelist  shall  appoint  or  hold  meetings 
where  they  will  interfere  with  the  regular  work  of 
any  preacher  duly  appointed  to  a  circuit  or  station. 

9.  The  examination  of  evangelists  may  be  con¬ 
ducted  orally. 


CHAPTER  IIP 


EXHORTERS 

^  173.  1.  Exliorters  are  a  class  of  laymen  li¬ 

censed  by  the  official  board  of  a  circuit  or  station 
to  conduct  religious  services  of  a  more  or  less  in¬ 
formal  character,  and  to  exercise  their  gifts  in  horta¬ 
tory  discourse,  or  in  laboring  otherwise  to  promote 
revivals  and  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  kingdom 
of  God.  They  are  expected  to  be  the  pastor's  helpers, 
and  hence  should  make  it  their  special  study  to  quali¬ 
fy  themselves  for  rendering  aid  in  the  work  of  the 
charge,  as  also  for  general  efficiency  in  various  de¬ 
partments  of  Christian  work. 

2.  No  person  shall  be  licensed  as  an  exhorter  un¬ 
less  he  gives  evidence  of  knowing  God  experimentally, 
is  of  good  reputation  among  those  by  whom  he  is 
well  known,  exhibits  the  marks  of  fair  intelligence, 
and  shows  himself  an  apt  learner  in  the  school  of 
Christ.  It  is  hoped  that  those  who  serve  God  and  the 
church  in  this  relation  may  grow  in  knowledge,  grace 
and  efficiency,  so  that  the  church  may  feel  warranted 
in  calling  them  into  its  higher  ministries. 

3.  Nor  shall  any  person  be  licensed  as  an  exhorter 
among  us  until  he  shall  have  been  duly  recommended 
by  the  society  of  which  he  is  a  member,  after  having 
lived  among  them  a  sufficient  time  to  enable  them 
to  know  that  his  religious  experience,  the  spirit  he 
manifests,  his  general  deportment,  and  his  gifts,  are 
such  as  to  commend  him  to  Christian  people  generally. 


105 


CHAPTER  IV 

DEACONESSES 

If  174.  Deaconesses  are  a  class  of  women  who  feel 
divinely  called  to  advance  the  cause  of  Christ,  but 
not  to  become  pastors  or  evangelists.  The  duties  of 
a  deaconess  shall  be  to  care  for  the  sick,  provide  for 
the  orphans,  save  the  erring  and  fallen,  and  to  al¬ 
leviate  as  far  as  possible  the  sufferings  of  those  within 
her  reach. 

1.  Persons  to  be  licensed  as  deaconesses  shall  be 
at  least  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  of  good  report 
in  the  church  for  works  of  charity  and  for  constancy 
of  faith. 

2.  No  person  shall  be  recommended  for  deaconess’ 
license  who  has  not  proved  her  Christian  character 
and  experience  by  living  a  consistent  Christian  life 
as  a  full  member  of  the  Free  Methodist  church  for 
at  least  two  years  in  succession  immediately  pre¬ 
ceding  the  application. 

3.  Candidates  for  deaconess’  license  must  first  be 
recommended  to  the  quarterly  conference  by  the  so¬ 
ciety  of  which  they  are  members. 

4.  The  quarterly  conference,  after  examination 
into  the  gifts,  graces  and  usefulness  of  a  candidate, 
may  recommend  her  to  the  annual  conference  to  re¬ 
ceive  license  as  a  deaconess. 

5.  The  annual  conference,  after  consideration  of 
the  gifts,  graces  and  usefulness  of  a  person  thus  rec¬ 
ommended,  may  grant  her  a  license  as  a  deaconess, 


106 


DEACONESSES 


107 


such  license  to  be  good  for  one  year  only  unless 
renewed. 

6.  Having  been  thus  licensed  for  two  years  in  suc¬ 
cession,  one  year  of  which  at  least  shall  have  been 
spent  in  practical  deaconess’  work,  and,  having  passed 
a  satisfactory  examination  in  the  prescribed  course 
of  study,  such  person  may  receive  from  the  annual 
conference  a  license  which  shall  be  good  until  re¬ 
voked  by  the  annual  conference. 

7.  Each  deaconess  shall  be  amenable  to  the  quar 
terly  conference  within  the  bounds  of  which  she  holds 
her  church  membership,  and  shall  report  her  work 
annually  to  the  quarterly  conference. 

8.  The  garb  of  a  deaconess  shall  be  a  dark  gray 
dress  and  black  bonnet  with  white  ties.  This  garb 
however,  shall  not  be  worn  until  she  receives  a  per¬ 
manent  license  from  the  annual  conference. 

9.  The  office  of  deaconess  shall  not  be  considered 
perpetual.  A  deaconess  may  at  any  time  relinquish 
her  license  and  discontinue  her  work.  But  while 
devoting  her  time  to  this  work  she  shall  be  entitled 
to  a  suitable  support.  The  method  of  providing  for 
the  support  of  a  deaconess  shall  be  determined  by  the 
annual  conference  within  which  she  holds  her  license. 

10.  A  deaconess  shall  be  a  member  of  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference  of  the  district  within  the  bounds  of 
which  she  holds  her  church  membership. 

11.  The  examination  of  deaconesses  may  be  con¬ 
ducted  orally. 


CHAPTER  V 


BANDS  AND  BAND  WORKERS 

175.  1.  District  elders,  and  evangelists  ap¬ 

pointed  by  the  general  or  annual  conferences  or  li¬ 
censed  by  an  annual  conference,  or  pastors,  may  or¬ 
ganize  bands  of  young  people  who  are  members  of 
our  church,  for  evangelistic  or  charitable  work. 

2.  The  rules  and  regulations  of  such  bands  shall 
be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  annual  conference 
to  which  the  leader  belongs,  or  within  the  bounds  of 
which  he  holds  his  membership. 

3.  All  bands  shall  be  under  the  direction  of  dis¬ 
trict  elders,  evangelists  or  pastors  by  whom  organ¬ 
ized.  No  band  leader  shall  appoint  or  hold  meetings 
where  they  will  interfere  with  the  regular  work  of 
any  preacher  duly  appointed  to  a  circuit  or  district, 
without  his  consent. 

4.  Those  who  labor  successfully  in  a  band  for  one 
year  may  be  licensed  by  the  quarterly  conference 
from  year  to  year,  as  band  workers. 


10S 


CHAPTER  VI 


CLASS  LEADERS 

176.  1.  Class  leaders  shall  be  elected  in  the 

last  quarter  of  the  conference  year.  The  preacher 
in  charge  may  nominate  and  the  class  shall  elect 
the  leader  by  ballot,  and  if  any  person  not  nominated 
by  the  preacher  receive  a  majority  of  the  votes,  he 
shall  be  declared  elected.  Any  member  of  the  society 
shall  be  eligible  to  election  as  leader. 

2.  Each  leader  should  carefully  inquire  how  each 
soul  in  his  class  prospers;  not  only  how  each  observes 
the  outward  rules,  but  how  he  grows  in  the  knowl¬ 
edge  and  love  of  God. 

3.  The  leaders  should  consult  with  those  who  have 
the  charge  of  their  circuits. 

4.  Let  the  preacher  in  charge  see  that  improper 
leaders  are  changed  by  a  new  election. 

5.  The  leaders  should  frequently  meet  one  an¬ 
other’s  classes. 


109 


CHAPTER  VII 


STEWARDS 

If  177.  1.  The  stewards  should  be  persons  of 

solid  piety,  who  both  know  and  love  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  doctrine  and  Discipline,  and  of  good  natural  and 
acquired  abilities  to  transact  temporal  business. 

2.  The  number  of  stewards  in  each  circuit  shall 
not  be  less  than  three,  nor  more  than  nine. 

3.  The  stewards  of  each  society  shall  be  elected 
by  ballot  at  a  regular  society  meeting  to  be  held  sub¬ 
sequent  to  the  annual  circuit  meeting.  Where  there 
is  but  one  society  they  may  be  elected  by  the  circuit 
meeting. 

If  178.  The  duties  of  stewards  are:  1.  To  take  an 
exact  account  of  all  the  money  or  other  provisions 
collected  for  the  support  of  the  ministers  in  the 
circuit.  2.  To  make  accurate  returns  of  every  ex¬ 
penditure  of  money,  whether  to  the  preachers,  the 
sick  or  the  poor.  3.  To  seek  the  needy  and  dis¬ 
tressed  in  order  to  relieve  and  comfort  them.  4.  To 
inform  the  preachers  of  any  sick  or  disorderly  per¬ 
sons.  5.  To  tell  the  preachers  what  they  think 
wrong  in  them.  6.  To  attend  the  quarterly  meetings 
of  their  circuit.  7.  To  give  advice,  if  asked,  in  plan¬ 
ning  the  circuit.  8.  To  attend  committees  for  the 
application  of  money  to  churches.  9.  To  give  counsel 
in  matters  of  arbitration.  10.  To  provide  elements 
for  the  Lord’s  Supper.  11.  To  write  circular  letters 
to  the  societies  in  the  circuit  to  be  more  liberal  if 
need  be;  as  also  to  let  them  know,  when  occasion  re¬ 
quires,  the  state  of  the  temporal  concerns  of  the  cir¬ 
cuit  at  the  last  quarterly  meeting. 


110 


JUDICIAL 


PART  VI 

ADMINISTRATION 


CHAPTERS 


I.  CHURCH  TRIALS 

II.  INSOLVENCIES  AND  SETTLEMENT 
DISPUTES 


OF 


CHAPTER  I 


CHURCH  TRIALS 

I.  Object  of  Church  Discipline 

If  179.  The  great  object  of  church  discipline  is  to 
reclaim  and  restore  the  erring  member.  This  should 
be  steadily  kept  in  view  in  every  step  that  is  taken. 
Every  effort  that  love  can  suggest  should  be  made 
to  bring  back  to  the  Lord  one  who,  while  under 
our  care,  has  wandered  from  him. 

If  180.  In  all  cases  of  personal  trespass,  and  in 
other  cases  where  the  circumstances  permit,  let  the 
duty  be  lovingly  and  faithfully  performed,  which  our 
Lord  enjoins  in  Matthew  18:  15-17: 

“Moreover  if  thy  brother  shall  trespass  against  thee, 
go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between  thee  and  him  alone: 
if  he  shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother. 
But  if  he  will  not  hear  thee,  then  take  with  thee  one 
or  two  more,  that  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  wit¬ 
nesses  every,  word  may  be  established.  And  if  he 
shall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the  church; 
but  if  he  neglect  to  hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto 
thee  as  a  heathen  man  and  a  publican.” 

181.  If  the  last  duty  becomes  necessary,  let  it 
be  performed  in  the  following  manner: 

II.  General  Directions 

If  182.  1.  Every  crime  forbidden  in  the  word  of 

God,  sufficient  to  exclude  a  person  from  the  kingdom 

113 


114 


CHURCH  TRIALS 


of  grace  and  glory,  shall  subject  a  member  to  expul¬ 
sion  from  the  church. 

2.  Both  accuser  and  accused  shall  be  entitled  to 
the  assistance  of  such  counsel  as  they  may  select 
from  the  members  or  ministers  of  the  church. 

3.  Both  the  accused  and  the  accuser  shall  have 
the  right  of  challenge  for  cause,  the  validity  of  which 
shall  be  determined  bj’  the  presiding  officer  at  the  so¬ 
ciety  meeting  where  the  committee  to  try  the  case  is 
elected. 

4.  In  all  trials  the  proceedings  shall  be  taken  down 
by  a  secretary  appointed  by  the  court;  and  when  an 
appeal  is  taken,  the  case  shall  be  decided  from  the 
testimony  as  it  appears  upon  the  record. 

5.  In  appeal  cases,  no  person  shall  be  allowed  to 
sit  who  has  previously  voted  in  the  decision  of  the 
case. 

6.  In  all  appeal  cases  the  appellant  shall  present 
the  counsel  for  the  church  a  statement  in  writing  of 
the  grounds  of  his  appeal,  at  least  five  days  before 
the  trial  of  the  appeal. 

7.  In  the  trial  of  appeal  cases  the  court  shall 
either  affirm  or  reverse  the  verdict  rendered  in  the 
former  trial,  or  remand  the  case  for  a  new  trial;  and 
in  cases  of  remanding  for  a  new  trial  no  person  shall 
be  eligible  as  a  juror  in  the  new  trial  who  voted  on 
the  first  trial. 

8.  After  such  forms  of  trial  and  expulsion,  such 
persons  shall  have  no  privileges  of  society  or  sacra¬ 
ments  in  our  church,  without  contrition,  confession 
and  reformation  satisfactory  to  the  conference  or 
society  from  which  they  have  withdrawn  or  by  which 
they  have  been  expelled. 

If  183.  In  all  cases  brought  to  trial  in  the  church, 
either  the  plaintiff  or  the  defendant  may  request  a 
change  of  venue,  and  shall  present  in  writing  the 
reasons  for  such  request;  and  if  the  presiding  officer 


TRIAL  OF  TRAVELING  PREACHERS 


115 


shall,  after  duly  considering  the  grounds  upon  which 
such  request  is  made,  be  convinced  that  conditions 
and  circumstances  are  such  as  to  render  a  fair  and 
impartial  trial  reasonably  doubtful  in  the  conference 
or  other  body  before  which  the  action  has  been  com¬ 
menced,  he  may  order  the  change  of  venue  requested, 
and  decide  as  to  the  conference  or  other  body  before 
which  the  case  shall  be  tried. 

III.  Trial  of  Preachers  in  Full  Membership 

If  184.  The  neglect  of  duties  required  by  the  word 
of  God  or  the  indulgence  of  sinful  tempers,  w^ords  or 
actions,  as  well  as  the  dissemination  of  false  doctrine, 
shall  subject  a  preacher  so  offending  to  private  re¬ 
proof  by  the  official  member  of  the  church  having  the 
oversight  of  the  offending  brother;  and  in  case  of 
persistence  after  proper  admonition  and  labor,  to 
trial,  suspension  from  ministerial  functions,  or  ex¬ 
pulsion. 

If  185.  Any  preacher  against  whom  a  charge  is 
brought,  shall  be  furnished  by  the  person  preferring 
the  charge,  or  by  the  presiding  officer  of  the  tribunal 
to  which  he  is  judicially  responsible,  with  a  copy  of 
the  charges  against  him,  at  least  ten  days  before  the 
trial,  unless  all  the  parties  agree  upon  an  earlier  time 
for  trial. 

If  186.  Any  traveling  preacher  who  wilfully  neg¬ 
lects  or  refuses  to  do  the  work  assigned  him  by  his 
annual  conference,  except  in  case  of  sickness  or  other 
unavoidable  circumstances,  shall  be  brought,  by  the 
district  elder,  or  the  bishop,  before  a  committee  of 
three  ministers  and  three  laymen,  which  shall  have 
power  to  suspend  him  from  all  the  functions  of  a 
preacher  until  the  ensuing  session  of  the  annual 
conference,  with  which  the  final  determination  of  the 
case  shall  rest,  and  which  shall  have  power  to  render 
the  suspension  final. 


1 1 G 


CHURCH  TRIALS 


^  187.  If  a  charge  of  immorality  or  of  unchristian 
conduct  is  brought  against  a  traveling  preacher  in 
the  interval  of  the  annual  conferences,  the  district 
elder  shall  call  a  committee  of  not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  six  traveling  preachers,  and  an  equal 
number  of  laymen,  which  shall  have  power  to  sus¬ 
pend  until  the  next  session  of  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence,  with  which  shall  rest  the  decision  of  the  case. 

^  188.  But  if  the  accused  be  a  district  elder,  then 
three  of  the  preachers  of  his  district  shall  call  in 
the  district  elder  of  an  adjoining  district,  who  shall 
call  the  accused  before  a  committee  as  above  provided, 
and  preside.  The  district  making  such  a  call  shall 
pay  the  traveling  expenses  of  the  district  elder  so 
called. 

^  189.  Each  annual  conference  shall  have  original 
jurisdiction  over  all  the  preachers  belonging  thereto, 
and  shall  have  power  to  reprove,  suspend,  locate  for 
inefficiency  or  want  of  usefulness,  or  expel,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  case,  and  as  righteousness  may 
require.  This  shall  not  be  so  construed  as  to  deprive 
traveling  preachers  of  the  ten-days’  notice  provided 
in  paragraph  185,  except  in  case  of  a  preacher  charged 
with  gross  immorality  who  voluntarily  absents  him¬ 
self  from  the  session  of  his  annual  conference. 

If  190.  All  cases  brought  before  an  annual  con¬ 
ference,  either  by  complaint  or  by  appeal,  may  be 
referred  to  a  committee  of  not  less  than  four  from 
each  branch,  which,  in  the  presence  of  the  president 
of  the  conference,  or  an  elder  whom  he  may  appoint 
(provided  that  neither  party  objects  to  the  person  so 
appointed)  shall,  either  during  its  session  or  after  its 
adjournment,  try  the  case  and  decide  upon  its  merits, 
and  its  decision  shall  have  the  same  effect  as  that 
of  the  annual  conference,  provided,  however,  that  in 
all  cases  the  defendant  shall  be  allowed  to  be  tried  by 


FORM  OF  PROCEDURE 


117 


the  select  committee  rather  than  by  the  conference,  if 
he  so  prefers. 

If  191.  In  all  cases  of  trial  and  conviction  of  travel¬ 
ing  preachers,  an  appeal  to  the  ensuing  general  con¬ 
ference  or  court  of  appeals,  as  the  appellant  may 
choose,  shall  be  allowed,  if  the  condemned  person 
signifies  his  intention  to  appeal,  at  the  time  of  con¬ 
demnation,  or  within  thirty  days  after  he  shall  have 
been  notified  thereof. 

If  1 92.  All  cases  brought  before  the  general  con¬ 
ference  by  appeal,  may,  with  the  consent  of  both  par¬ 
ties,  be  referred  to  a  committee  of  not  less  than  six 
ministerial  and  six  lay  delegates,  which,  in  the  pres¬ 
ence  of  one  of  the  bishops,  shall  hear  the  case,  and 
decide  upon  its  merits;  and  its  decision  shall  have  the 
same  effect  as  that  of  the  general  conference. 

If  193.  When  an  appeal  'lias  been  taken,  penalty 
shall  be  suspended  pending  the  hearing  of  the  appeal, 
except  that  a  minister  suspended  shall  not  exercise 
his  ministerial  office  while  his  appeal  is  pending. 

IV.  Form  of  Procedure 

I.  Form  for  a  Bill  of  Charges 

If  194.  1.  Charge.  (Name  the  offense.) 

2.  Specifications.  (Name  the  acts,  times  and 
places.) 

II.  Order  of  Conducting  Church  Trials 

If  195.  1.  Devotional  exercises. 

2.  Reading  of  the  action  of  the  society  meeting 
or  conference  by  which  the  committee  to  try  the  case 
was  appointed,  and  the  names  of  the  committee. 

3.  The  appointment  of  a  secretary. 

4.  Reading  the  charges  and  specifications  by  the 
secretary. 

5.  Answer  by  the  accused  in  person  or  by  counsel. 


118 


CHURCH  TRIALS 


6.  Statement  of  the  case,  and  line  of  evidence  by 
the  prosecution. 

7.  Evidence  of  the  prosecution,  and  cross-exam¬ 
ination  by  the  defense. 

S.  Statement  of  the  case  and  line  of  defense,  by 
the  defense. 

9.  Evidence  for  the  defense,  and  cross-examina¬ 
tion  by  the  prosecution. 

10.  Rebutting  evidence  for  the  prosecution. 

11.  Rebutting  evidence  for  the  defense. 

12.  Summing  up  the  case  by  the  prosecution. 

13.  Summing  up  the  case  by  the  defense. 

14.  In  case  it  he  deemed  proper  to  allow  the 
prosecution  to  reply,  the  defense  shall  also  be  per¬ 
mitted  to  reply. 

15.  Instructions  of  the  presiding  officer  as  to  the 
form  of  bringing  in  their  verdict. 

16.  The  verdict. 

17.  The  court  shall  announce  the  verdict  and  im¬ 
pose  the  penalty  fixed  by  the  trial  committee. 

V.  Restoration  of  Credentials 

1 96.  1.  When  a  member  of  an  annual  confer¬ 

ence  is  deprived  of  his  credentials,  by  expulsion  or 
otherwise,  they  shall  be  filed  with  the  papers  of  his 
conference;  and  should  he,  at  any  future  time,  give 
satisfactory  evidence  to  the  said  conference  of  his 
amendment,  and  procure  a  certificate  from  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference  of  the  charge  where  he  resides  or 
from  an  annual  conference  which  may  have  received 
him  on  trial,  recommending  to  the  annual  conference 
of  which  he  was  formerly  a  member  the  restoration 
of  his  credentials,  the  said  conference  may  restore 
them. 

2.  When  a  local  elder  or  deacon  shall  be  expelled 
the  district  elder  shall  require  of  him  the  credentials 


TRIAL  OF  TRAVELING  PREACHERS 


119 


of  his  ordination,  to  be  filed  with  the  papers  of  the 
annual  conference  within  the  limits  of  which  the  ex¬ 
pulsion  has  taken  place;  and  should  he,  at  any  future 
time,  produce  to  the  annual  conference  a  certificate 
of  his  restoration,  signed  by  the  president  and  coun¬ 
tersigned  by  the  secretary  of  the  quarterly  confer¬ 
ence,  his  credentials  may  be  restored  to  him. 

3.  If  an  ordained  elder  or  deacon  shall  refuse  to 
surrender  his  credentials  of  ordination  when  law¬ 
fully  required  to  do  so,  he  thereby  forfeits  his  parch¬ 
ments,  and,  at  its  first  session  thereafter,  his  annual 
conference  should  declare  them  forfeited. 

VI.  Proceedings  Against  a  Preacher  on  Trial 

ft  197.  A  preacher  on  trial  in  an  annual  conference 
shall  be  accountable  for  his  moral  and  Christian  con¬ 
duct  to  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  district  within 
the  bounds  of  which  he  travels.  If  charges  are 
brought  against  him,  he  shall  be  tried  the  same  as  a 
local  preacher. 

VII.  The  Trial  of  a  Local  Preacher 

ft  198.  An  accused  local  preacher  or  evangelist 
shall  be  tried  by  the  quarterly  conference  of  wrhich 
he  is  a  member;  or,  at  the  option  of  the  quarterly 
conference,  by  a  committee  of  not  less  than  five  nor 
more  than  nine,  chosen  for  this  purpose  by  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference,  which  shall  have  powTer  to  reprove, 
suspend  or  expel,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  case 
and  as  righteousness  may  require.  The  district  elder 
shall  preside  at  the  trial. 

But  if,  for  any  reason,  the  district  elder  shall  be 
unable  to  preside,  or,  if  he  shall  be  personally  so  re¬ 
lated  to  the  case  to  come  before  the  quarterly  con¬ 
ference  as  to  disqualify  him  for  presiding,  the  bishop 


120 


CHURCH  TRIALS 


who  last  presided  at  the  annual  conference  of  which 
the  quarterly  conference  forms  a  part  shall  appoint 
another  elder  to  preside. 

f  199.  If  a  charge  of  gross  immorality  is  brought 
against  a  local  preacher  or  evangelist  in  the  interval 
of  the  sessions  of  the  quarterly  conference,  the  dis¬ 
trict  elder  shall  call  a  committee  of  not  less  than 
five  members  of  the  quarterly  conference,  which  shall 
have  power  to  suspend  until  the  next  session  of  the 
quarterly  conference. 

200.  1.  Whenever  a  change  of  venue  is  granted, 

the  quarterly  conference  to  which  it  is  removed  shall 
take  cognizance  of  the  case  and  proceed  to  give  it  a 
hearing  at  its  first  regular  session. 

2.  If  in  the  change  of  venue  the  case  is  removed 
to  a  quarterly  conference  over  which  another  district 
elder  presides,  then  such  district  elder  shall  preside 
at  the  trial. 

If  201.  Any  local  preacher  or  evangelist  feeling 
aggrieved  at  the  decision  of  his  case,  shall  be  allowed 
an  appeal  to  the  ensuing  session  of  the  annual  con¬ 
ference. 

VIII.  The  Trial  of  An  Accused  Member 

1.  Ground  of  Complaint — Disciplinary  Labor 

202.  The  neglect  of  duties  required  by  the  word 
of  God,  or  indulgence  of  sinful  tempers,  words  or  ac¬ 
tions,  shall  subject  the  person  so  offending  to  private 
reproof  by  the  official  members  of  the  church  having 
the  oversight  of  the  offender;  and,  in  case  of  per¬ 
sistence  after  proper  admonition  and  labor,  to  trial 
and  censure,  being  placed  on  probation  not  to  exceed 
six  months,  or  expulsion,  as  the  committee  may  de¬ 
termine,  provided  that  no  charge  of  the  character  re¬ 
ferred  to  in  this  paragraph,  including  the  charge  of 
falsehood,  shall  be  entertained  until  the  party  com- 


ELECTION  OF  COMMITTEE 


121 


plained  of  has  been  labored  with  as  required  by  para¬ 
graph  180. 

ff  202a.  Any  member  upon  whom  the  penalty  of 
probation  or  suspension  has  been  duly  imposed  for 
the  neglect  of  duties  required  by  the  Word  of  God  or 
“indulgence  of  sinful  tempers,  words  or  actions,” 
shall  vacate  all  offices,  and  surrender  all  credentials 
held  by  action  of  the  church.  The  secretary  of  the 
body  that  issued  the  credentials  in  the  case  shall  hold 
such  credentials  during  the  period  of  penalty. 

2.  Notification  of  Time  and  Place  of  Trial 

203.  Any  member  against  whom  a  charge  is 
brought  shall  be  furnished  by  the  persons  bringing 
the  charge,  or  by  the  presiding  officer  of  the  tribunal 
to  which  he  is  judicially  responsible,  with  a  copy  of 
the  charges  against  him,  at  least  fourteen  days  before 
the  trial,  unless  the  party  against  whom  charges  are 
brought  shall  demand  an  earlier  trial.  He  shall  also 
be  notified  of  the  place  of  the  election  of  the  commit¬ 
tee  to  try  the  case  at  least  ten  days  prior  to  its  elec¬ 
tion. 


3.  Election  of  Committee  to  Try  a  Case 

IT  204.  When  charges  are  preferred  against  a 
member,  the  preacher  who  is  to  preside  at  the  trial 
shall  call  a  meeting  of  the  society,  which  shall  select 
a  committee  of  not  less  than  five,  nor  more  than  nine, 
who  shall  be  members  of  the  church,  within  the 
bounds  of  the  annual  conference,  to  try  the  case. 
No  preacher  belonging  to  an  annual  conference,  either 
on  trial  or  in  full  membership,  shall  be  eligible  to  act 
on  this  committee. 

f[  205.  If  the  society  shall  refuse  to  appoint  such 
committee  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  district 
of  whic&  the  society  forms  a  part  shall  appoint  a 


122 


CHURCH  TRIALS 


committee  to  try  the  case,  and  if  after  conviction  the 
member  tried  appeals  to  the  quarterly  conference,  no 
member  of  said  committee  shall  be  eligible  to  sit  as 
a  juror  in  the  trial  of  the  case. 

4.  Presiding  Officer 

206.  The  preacher  in  charge,  when  in  full  mem¬ 
bership  in  the  conference,  shall  preside  at  the  trial 
of  members;  but  the  district  elder  shall,  for  sufficient 
reasons,  appoint  some  other  traveling  preacher  in  full 
membership  to  preside  at  any  particular  trial.  The 
district  elder  shall  not  preside  at  such  trial. 

5.  Right  of  Appeal 

207.  Any  member  who  has  been  tried  and  con¬ 
victed  by  a  committee,  shall  be  entitled  to  an  appeal 
to  the  next  quarterly  conference,  provided  he  did  not 
voluntarily  absent  himself  from  the  trial,  and  pro¬ 
vided  he  gave  notice  of  his  intention  to  appeal  at  the 
time  of  his  condemnation,  or  within  thirty  days  after 
having  been  notified  thereof. 

6.  Restoration  of  Membership 

208.  In  case  a  member  who  has  been  expelled 
from  the  church  shall  afterward  be  proven  innocent 
of  the  charge  upon  which  he  was  expelled,  he  may 
be  restored  to  full  membership  in  the  church  by  vote 
of  the  society  from  which  he  was  expelled. 

If  208a,  No  member  of  the  Free  Methodist  church 
will  be  permitted  to  exercise  any  official  functions 
while  under  penalty  by  the  church  for  unchristian 
conduct.  This  shall  not  apply  to  the  office  of  trustee 
in  states  wThere  the  civil  law  will  not  permit  the  sus¬ 
pension  of  the  office  of  a  trustee  for  such  reasons. 


CHAPTER  II 


INSOLVENCIES  AND  THE  SETTLEMENT  OF 

DISPUTES 

If  209.  In  case  of  disputes  between  two  or  more 
members  of  the  church,  concerning  the  payment  of 
debts,  or  other  matters  not  involving  personal  char¬ 
acter,  which  cannot  be  settled  by  the  parties  con¬ 
cerned,  the  preacher  who  has  charge  of  the  circuit 
shall  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of  the  case;  and 
shall  recommend  to  the  contending  parties  a  reference, 
consisting  of  one  arbiter  chosen  by  the  plaintiff, 
and  another  chosen  by  the  defendant,  which  two  ar¬ 
biters  so  chosen  shall  nominate  a  third;  the  three 
arbiters  being  members  of  the  church. 

1f210.  But  if  one  of  these  parties  be  dissatisfied 
with  the  judgment  given,  such  parties  may  apply  to 
the  ensuing  quarterly  conference  for  allowance  to 
have  a  second  arbitration  appointed;  and  if  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference  see  sufficient  reason,  they  shall  grant 
a  second  arbitration,  in  which  case  each  party  shall 
choose  two  arbiters,  and  the  four  arbiters  shall  choose 
a  fifth,  the  judgment  of  the  majority  of  whom  shall 
be  final;  and  any  person  refusing  to  abide  by  such 
judgment  shall  be  excluded  from  the  church. 

1(211.  If  any  member  of  the  church  shall  refuse, 
in  case  of  debt  or  other  disputes,  to  refer  the  mat¬ 
ter  to  arbitration,  when  recommended  by  him  who  has 
charge  of  the  circuit,  or  shall  enter  into  a  lawsuit 
with  another  before  such  measures  are  taken,  he 
shall  be  expelled  by  a  regular  trial  according  to  Dis- 


123 


124 


INSOLVENCIES  AND  DISPUTES 


cipline,  unless  the  case  be  of  such  a  nature  as  to  re¬ 
quire  or  justify  a  process  of  law. 

1)212.  Whenever  a  complaint  is  made  against  any 
member  of  the  church  for  non-payment  of  debt,  when 
the  accounts  are  adjusted,  and  the  amount  is  ascer¬ 
tained,  the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit  shall  call 
the  debtor  before  a  committee  of  at  least  three,  to 
show  the  cause  why  he  does  not  make  payment.  The 
committee  shall  determine  what  further  time  shall  be 
granted  him  for  payment;  and  in  case  the  debtor  re¬ 
fuses  to  comply,  he  shall  be  expelled;  but  in  such 
case  he  may  appeal  to  the  quarterly  conference,  and 
its  decision  shall  be  final;  and  in  case  the  creditor 
complains  that  justice  is  not  done  him,  he  may  lay 
his  grievance  before  the  quarterly  conference  and  its 
decision  shall  be  final;  and  if  the  creditor  refuses  to 
comply  he  shall  be  expelled.  In  case  the  debtor  re¬ 
fuses  or  neglects  to  comply  with  the  findings  of  the 
committee  or  of  the  quarterly  conference,  the  creditor 
may  have  recourse  to  the  civil  courts  without  affect¬ 
ing  his  membership  in  the  church. 

1J2I3.  To  prevent  scandal,  when  any  member  of 
the  church  shall  fail  in  business,  or  contract  debts 
which  he  is  not  able  to  pay,  two  or  three  judicious 
members  of  the  church  shall  inspect  the  accounts, 
contracts  and  circumstances  of  the  case  of  the  sup¬ 
posed  delinquent;  and  if  he  has  behaved  dishonestly, 
or  borrowed  money  without  a  probability  of  paying, 
he  shall  be  expelled.  The  official  body  to  which  the 
offending  member  is  amenable  shall  appoint  the  com¬ 
mittee  of  inspection. 


PART  VII 

TEMPORAL  ECONOMY 


CHAPTERS 

I.  SUPPORT  OF  EFFECTIVE  MINISTERS 

II.  SUPPORT  OF  SUPERANNUATED 

PREACHERS  AND  OTHER  CLAIMANTS 

III.  CHURCH  PROPERTY 

IV.  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE  AID 


CHAPTER  I 


SUPPORT  OF  EFFECTIVE  MINISTERS 

I.  Support  of  Bishops 

ft  214.  The  salaries  of  our  bishops  shall  be  raised 
by  conference  collections;  and  the  executive  commit¬ 
tee  shall  make  the  apportionment  to  the  respective 
conferences  and  so  arrange  the  time  for  taking  the 
collections  for  the  same  among  said  conferences  that 
some  shall  be  taken  in  each  quarter  of  the  year. 

II.  Support  of  District  Elders 

ft  2 1 5.  The  district  elder  shall  be  supported  by 
the  district  to  which  he  is  appointed,  as  provided  for 
in  paragraph  160  (18),  each  circuit  contributing  its 
proportion,  as  agreed  upon  in  the  quarterly  confer¬ 
ence.  In  case  he  is  elected  stationed  district  elder 
he  shall  be  supported  by  the  circuit  to  which  he  is 
appointed. 

III.  Support  of  Preachers  in  Charge 

ft  216.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  committee  ap¬ 

pointed  by  the  official  board,  who  shall  be  members  of 
the  church,  to  make,  after  consulting  with  the 
preacher  in  charge,  an  estimate  of  the  amount  neces¬ 
sary  for  the  support  of  the  preacher  or  preachers 
stationed  with  them;  which  estimate  shall  be  subject 
to  the  action  of  the  official  board. 

2.  The  stewards  shall  provide  by  such  means  as 


127 


128 


SUPPORT  OF  MINISTERS 


they  may  devise  to  meet  such  expenses,  in  money, 
or  otherwise. 

3.  Every  class  leader  shall,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  year,  ascertain  how  much  each  person  in  his 
class  is  able  and  willing  to  pay,  per  wreek,  for  the 
support  of  the  preachers,  and  note  the  same  in  his 
class-book,  and  diligently  see  to  it  that  the  collections 
are  made  weekly,  duly  credited,  and  paid  over  to  the 
steward  for  the  benefit  of  the  preachers. 

4.  If  any  deficiency  shall  arise  in  the  preacher’s 
salary,  the  stewards  shall  circulate  among  our  friends 
a  subscription  to  assist  in  such  deficiency. 

5.  The  adoption  of  the  budget  system  for  raising 
finances  is  recommended  to  all  the  societies  of  the 
church.  The  membership  is  requested  to  cooperate 
heartily  with  this  plan,  giving  not  less  than  one-tenth 
of  the  net  annual  income  for  the  Lord’s  work. 

IV.  Support  of  Evangelists 

2 1 7.  Evangelists  shall  depend  upon  the  fields  in 
which  they  labor  for  their  support,  except  in  case 
of  general  evangelists,  whose  salaries  are  raised  by 
appropriations  from  the  general  missionary  board  and 
by  collections  on  their  fields  of  labor. 


CHAPTER  II 


SUPPORT  OF  SUPERANNUATED  PREACHERS 
AND  OTHER  CLAIMANTS 

2 1 8.  1.  The  executive  committee  shall  consti- 

lute  the  board  of  conference  claimants. 

2.  This  board  shall  make  a  report  of  all  its  doings 
to  the  general  conference. 

If  2 1 9.  The  funds  of  this  board  shall  be  known  as 
the  conference  claimants’  fund,  and  shall  consist  of 
the  proceeds  accruing  from  the  endowment  fund  and 
collections  taken  by  the  annual  conferences  for  said 
claimants’  fund,  and  fifty  per  cent  annually  of  the 
net  profits  of  the  business  of  the  Publishing  House. 

If  220.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  preacher  in 
charge  of  a  circuit  to  raise  annually  an  amount  equal 
to  five  cents  per  member  in  full  relation,  which 
money,  together  with  gifts,  bequests  and  legacies 
which  may  be  received  for  this  purpose,  shall  consti¬ 
tute  a  perpetual  endowment  fund,  which  shall  be  in¬ 
vested  by  the  board,  the  proceeds  therefrom  to  be  ap¬ 
propriated  to  the  conference  claimants'  fund. 

If  221.  1.  The  claimants  upon  this  fund  shall  be 

superannuated  preachers,  superannuated  missionaries 
to  foreign  lands,  and  the  widows  and  children  of  de¬ 
ceased  preachers  and  missionaries  to  foreign  lands; 
and  no  claimant  shall  receive  annually  from  said  fund 
an  amount  greater  than  the  regular  disciplinary  al¬ 
lowance. 

2.  In  the  case  of  superannuated  missionaries  who 


129 


130 


SUPERANNUATED  PREACHERS 


have  served  in  foreign  lands  the  amount  allowed  shall 
be  fixed  by  the  missionary  board. 

fl  222.  1.  The  allowance  for  superannuated  preach¬ 

ers  shall  be  ten  dollars  a  year  for  the  first  ten  years 
of  effective  service  after  having  been  received  into 
the  conference  in  full  membership,  and  fifteen  dol¬ 
lars  a  year  for  the  next  ten  years,  making  two  hun¬ 
dred  fifty  dollars  the  full  claim — provided  the  preach¬ 
er  is  without  so  much  of  worldly  goods  as  shall  be 
necessary  for  his  support.  By  “effective  service” 
shall  be  understood  the  time  actually  employed  by  a 
preacher  as  directed  by  his  conference;  provided, 
however,  in  determining  the  claim,  if  a  traveling  min¬ 
ister  shall  take  a  certificate  of  location,  and  later  be 
made  effective,  the  years  served  previous  to  his  lo¬ 
cation  shall  not  be  counted,  except  by  recommenda¬ 
tion  of  his  annual  conference. 

2.  The  bishops  shall  make  an  effort  at  each  an¬ 
nual  conference  to  increase  the  superannuated  fund. 
The  executive  committee  is  authorized  to  increase 
the  amount  to  $300  as  soon  as  the  funds  will  war¬ 
rant. 

3.  The  allowance  granted  shall  be  paid  semi-an¬ 
nually  if  the  treasury  will  warrant. 

ff  223.  The  above  provision  shall  apply  to  the 
widows  of  traveling  and  superannuated  preachers,  so 
long  as  they  shall  remain  members  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church,  and  if  the  superannuated  preacher  die, 
then  his  full  claim  shall  be  paid  to  his  widow  at  the 
ensuing  annual  conference.  If  a  minister  should 
marry  after  being  superannuated,  no  claim  shall  be 
allowed  his  widow  or  children,  the  issue  of  such  mar¬ 
riage. 

224.  The  board  of  conference  claimants  shall  be 
provided  with  blanks  furnished  by  the  Publishing 
House  on  which  the  applicant  for  a  claim  on  the  su¬ 
perannuate  fund  shall  state  in  full  to  the  committee 


SUPERANNUATED  PREACHERS 


131 


on  conference  claimants  and  claims  the  circuits  or 
charges  in  any  of  the  annual  conferences  on  which  he 
has  labored  since  becoming  a  member  of  the  confer¬ 
ence,  and  shall  also  make  a  certified  statement  of  all 
his  worldly  resources  and  of  his  actual  yearly  income, 
and  also  a  statement  of  his  bodily  disabilities. 

ff  225.  On  the  death  of  a  preacher,  leaving  a  child 
or  children  without  so  much  of  worldly  goods  as  shall 
be  necessary  to  his,  her  or  their  support,  the  annual 
conference  of  which  he  was  a  member  shall  estimate, 
according  to  the  provision  of  this  chapter,  a  yearly 
sum  for  the  subsistence  of  such  orphan  child  or  chil¬ 
dren,  until  he,  she  or  they  shall  have  arrived  at  four¬ 
teen  years  of  age,  the  amount  of  which  yearly  sum 
shall  be  fixed  by  a  committee  of  the  conference  at 
each  session  in  advance.  This  sum  shall  in  no  case 
exceed  thirty-six  dollars  for  each  child. 

if  226.  Each  annual  conference  may,  at  its  discre¬ 
tion,  order  collections  for  necessitous  cases  amongst 
its  claimants  or  other  laborers,  and  the  money  so  col¬ 
lected  shall  be  divided  by  the  annual  conference  as  in 
the  exercise  of  its  discretion  the  necessities  of  each 
case  may  demand. 

If  227.  Each  annual  conference  is  earnestly  recom¬ 
mended  to  provide  houses,  so  far  as  practicable,  for 
the  use  of  the  superannuated  preachers  or  the  widows 
of  preachers.  If  any  of  our  people  who  have  prop¬ 
erty  will  do  so,  let  it  be  deeded  to  the  trustees  of  the 
Free  Methodist  church  for  the  use  of  superannuated 
preachers. 

ff  228.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  to  esti¬ 
mate  the  amount  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the 
claimants  in  addition  to  the  endowment  fund,  and  ap¬ 
portion  the  same  pro  rata  upon  the  entire  member¬ 
ship  of  the  church,  which  apportionment,  together 
with  five  cents  per  member  for  the  endowment  fund, 


132 


SUPERANNUATED  PREACHERS 


shall  be  raised  by  conference  collections  not  later 
than  the  second  quarter  of  the  conference  year. 

H  229.  We  recommend  that  each  annual  confer¬ 
ence  employing  men  or  women,  or  both,  as  supplies 
on  circuits  make  suitable  provision  for  their  preser¬ 
vation  from  financial  embarrassment  when  worn  out 
or  broken  down  in  the  work. 

fl  230.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  to  make 
a  division  of  its  funds  based  upon  the  number  of 
claimants,  and  not  to  exceed  their  regular  disciplinary 
allowance,  and  to  forward  the  amount  for  each  an¬ 
nual  conference  to  the  bishop  presiding  at  such  an¬ 
nual  conference,  which  body  shall  divide  it  according 
to  the  appropriation  of  said  conference. 

||23l.  Any  annual  conference  deficient  in  its  col¬ 
lection  shall  have  the  amount  of  its  deficiency  de¬ 
ducted  from  the  amount  of  its  appropriation  by  the 
board. 

||  23 1  a.  All  preachers  having  annual  or  general 
conference  appointments  who  receive  for  their  ser¬ 
vices  $700.00  or  more  a  year  are  requested  to  pay 
one  per  cent  of  said  income  into  the  general  church 
treasury,  and  the  funds  thus  received  shall  be  placed 
with  the  permanent  endowment  fund  for  superannu¬ 
ates  as  provided  for  in  paragraph  220. 


CHAPTEK  III 


CHURCH  PROPERTY 

i.  Trustees — Appointment  and  Duties 

~  232.  The  board  of  trustees  for  church  property 
shell  consist  of  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than 
nine  persons,  at  least  two-thirds  of  whom  shall  be 
members  of  the  Free  Methodist  church. 

If  233.  In  all  cases  where  the  law  of  states  or  ter¬ 
ritories  requires  a  specified  mode  of  election,  that 
mode  shall  be  observed;  otherwise  such  trustees  shall 
be  elected  at  the  society  meeting,  except  where  a 
society  is  not  incorporated,  and  is  embraced  within 
a  circuit  and  has  become  extinct,  in  which  case 
trustees  for  such  property  shall  be  elected  by  the  an¬ 
nual  circuit  meeting.  All  trustees  shall  hold  their 
office  until  their  successors  shall  be  elected. 

If  234.  Boards  of  trustees  shall  report  all  business 
transacted  to  the  annual  circuit  meeting,  and  to  the 
society  whenever  requested  to  do  so  by  the  preacher 
in  charge,  the  official  board  or  by  the  society.  They 
shall  also  make  an  annual  statement  of  the  financial 
condition  of  the  property  in  their  care. 

If  235.  If  a  member  of  our  church  holding  the  office 
of  trustee  withdraws  from  the  church,  is  dismissed 
by  letter  or  expelled,  or  removes  beyond  the  bounds 
of  the  circuit  for  which  he  was  elected,  the  society 
may  declare  his  place  in  the  board  vacant,  except  in 
states  or  territories  where  the  law  will  not  allow  this 
to  be  done. 


133 


134 


CHURCH  PROPERTY 


IT  236.  No  other  denomination  shall  be  permitted 
to  hold  stated  appointments  in  any  of  our  churches 
without  the  consent  of  both  the  preacher  in  charge 
and  a  majority  of  the  trustees. 

ft  236a.  If  a  district  desires  to  purchase  or  acquire 
property,  such  district  shall  incorporate.  There  shall 
be  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  nine  trustees 
elected  by  the  quarterly  conference.  All  trustees 
shall  hold  their  office  till  their  successors  shall  be 
elected.  When  the  district  becomes  incorporated,  the 
deed  shall  be  made  out  directly  to  the  district  in  its 
corporate  name,  and  not  to  individual  trustees;  and 
in  all  cases  it  shall  contain  the  trust  clause  included 
in  paragraph  238.  This  does  not  apply  to  Canadian 
property. 

II.  Incorporation  and  Deeds 

ft  237.  Before  any  real  estate  is  purchased  for 
either  church  or  parsonage  property,  let  the  society 
consult  some  reliable  lawyer,  provide  him  with  a  copy 
of  our  Discipline  for  reference,  and  wherever  the  law 
of  the  state  or  territory  will  permit,  proceed  legally 
to  incorporate  the  society.  Let  the  articles  of  in¬ 
corporation,  where  the  laws  will  permit,  provide  that 
the  society  shall  be  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the 
Discipline  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  of  North 
America,  and  that  the  secular  affairs  of  the  corpora¬ 
tion  shall  be  managed  and  controlled  by  trustees 
elected  according  to  the  provisions  of  said  Discipline. 
When  such  incorporation  is  completed,  let  the  deed  be 
made  out  directly  to  the  society  in  its  corporate  name, 
and  not  to  individual  trustees;  and  in  all  cases  it 
shall  contain  the  trust  clause  included  in  the  next 
paragraph. 

ft  238.  In  states  where  the  law  requires  church 
property  to  be  held  by  trustees,  and  in  states  where 
incorporation  can  not  be  secured  as  provided  for  in 


CHURCH  PROPERTY 


135 


the  preceding  paragraph,  let  all  deeds  be  made  to 
trustees,  naming  them  and  their  successors  in  office, 
and  containing  the  following  trust  clause:  “In  trust 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  membership  of  the  Free 
Methodist  Church  of  North  America,  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  ‘Free  Methodist  General  Confer¬ 
ence  of  North  America,’  subject  to  the  Discipline, 
usages  and  ministerial  appointments  of  said  church, 
as  from  time  to  time  authorized  and  declared;  and,  if 
sold,  the  proceeds  shall  be  disposed  of  and  used  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  said  Discipline,  and 
of  the  civil  law;  and  in  further  trust  and  confidence 
that  in  the  houses  of  worship  now  erected  or  that  may 
hereafter  be  erected  on  said  premises  hereby  con¬ 
veyed,  the  seats  shall  be  forever  free;  and  in  further 
trust  and  confidence  that  the  said  trustees  and  their 
successors  in  office  shall  permit  at  all  times  the 
preachers  who  may  be  duly  authorized  according  to 
the  Discipline  of  the  said  Free  Methodist  church,  to 
hold  religious  services  in  said  houses  of  worship  ac¬ 
cording  to  said  Discipline.” 

239.  No  deed  shall  be  accepted  which  contains 
a  clause  by  which  the  land  conveyed  may  revert  to 
the  original  grantor,  his  heirs  or  assigns. 

240.  All  deeds  should  be  immediately  recorded, 
and  in  all  their  parts  should  be  made  to  conform  to 
the  laws,  usages  and  forms  of  the  state  or  territory 
in  which  the  property  may  be  situated. 

241 .  In  no  case  shall  the  church  or  parsonage 
property  be  sold,  mortgaged  or  encumbered  for  cur¬ 
rent  expenses. 

ft  242.  Whenever  it  may  become  necessary  or  ad¬ 
visable  to  dispose  of  any  church  property,  the  trustees 
may  sell  and  convey  the  same  by  first  securing  the 
authority  of  the  society  for  such  sale,  the  approval  of 
the  district  elder  and  the  consent  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference,  or  in  the  intervals  of  its  sessions,  of  two- 


13G 


CHURCH  PROPERTY 


thirds  of  the  trustees  of  the  general  conference;  pro¬ 
vided  that  in  all  cases  the  proceeds  of  such  sale  shall 
be  used  either  for  the  purchase  or  improvement  of 
property  for  the  same  uses  and  deeded  to  the  same 
corporation  or  trustees;  or  if  not  so  used,  shall  be 
held  subject  to  the  order  of  the  annual  conference  in 
whose  territory  such  property  may  be  situated. 

ft  243.  Whenever  any  church  property  is  no  longer 
used  for  church  purposes,  and  is  declared  abandoned 
by  the  annual  conference,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
trustees,  if  any  remain,  to  sell  such  property  and  turn 
over  the  proceeds  of  such  sale  to  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence.  If  no  such  trustees  remain,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  trustees  of  the  annual  conference  to  take  pos¬ 
session  of  such  property  by  any  means  lawful  in  the 
state  or  territory  in  which  the  property  may  be  situ¬ 
ated.  The  annual  conference  may  sell  and  convey 
such  property,  the  proceeds  of  such  sale  to  be  used  as 
said  conference  may  direct,  provided  that  such  trans¬ 
action  shall  not  be  contrary  to  the  civil  law. 

III.  Erection  of  Churches 

244.  1.  All  our  houses  of  worship  must  be  built 

plain  and  neat,  without  steeples,  and  no  more  expen¬ 
sive  than  is  absolutely  required  for  comfort,  con¬ 
venience  and  stability,  and  with  all  seats  free. 

2.  No  step  shall  be  taken  involving  pecuniary  lia¬ 
bility  in  erecting  houses  of  worship  or  parsonages, 
or  in  purchasing  church  property  of  any  kind,  until 
two-thirds  of  the  amount  necessary  to  meet  the  esti¬ 
mated  cost  be  secured  in  good,  reliable  subscriptions. 

3.  No  houses  of  worship,  parsonages  or  other 
church  buildings  shall  be  erected  on  leased  ground, 
except  on  reservations  or  other  places  where  it  is  im¬ 
possible  to  secure  a  deed  in  fee,  or  without  the  unani¬ 
mous  consent  of  the  conference  board  of  church  ex- 


CHURCH  PROPERTY 


137 


tension  and  aid  society  of  the  annual  conference  in 
whose  territory  the  property  is  situated. 

4.  Each  annual  conference  shall  appoint  a  com¬ 
mittee  of  not  less  than  three  on  “Church  Buildings 
and  Locations,”  and  no  church  shall  be  built  within 
the  bounds  of  the  conference  without  the  approval  in 
writing  both  of  the  location  and  the  plan  of  the  build¬ 
ing  and  of  the  title  of  the  property.  If  any  location 
is  selected  or  a  church  building  constructed  without 
such  consent  that  society  shall  not  receive  aid  from 
the  church  extension  and  aid  society.  This  commit¬ 
tee  shall  satisfy  themselves  that  proper  facilities 
have  been  made  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Sun¬ 
day-school  before  giving  their  approval. 

5.  The  executive  committee  is  authorized  to  col¬ 
lect  data  touching  the  questions  of  heating,  lighting, 
ventilating  and  comfortable  seating  for  churches,  also 
to  secure  cuts,  drawings  and  working  plans  of  church 
buildings  which  conform  to  Free  Methodist  standards, 
and  to  make  such  information  and  plans  available  for 
societies  desiring  to  build;  and  all  societies  intending 
to  build  are  urgently  requested  to  secure  such  infor¬ 
mation  from  the  executive  committee  and  to  make 
such  use  of  it  as  local  conditions  will  permit. 


CHAPTEE  I\ 


CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE  AID 

1.  The  General  Church  and  Parsonage  Aid  Society 

fl244a.  1.  The  executive  committee  shall  consti¬ 

tute  the  Church  and  Parsonage  Aid  Society  of  the 
Free  Methodist  Church  of  North  America. 

2.  The  object  of  this  society  shall  be  to  aid 
churches  or  societies  in  rebuilding  churches  or  par¬ 
sonages  which  have  been  destroyed  totally  or  in  part. 
This  is  to  be  construed  to  mean  only  church  build¬ 
ings  and  parsonages,  not  barns,  garages,  etc. 

3.  This  society  shall  publish  in  the  official  paper 
of  the  church  an  annual  report  of  its  work  and  alsc^ 
submit  a  full  report  quadrennially  to  the  general  con¬ 
ference. 

II.  Conference  Church  and  Parsonage  Aid  Society 

244b.  1.  The  annual  conference  church  exten¬ 

sion  society  shall  constitute  the  conference  church 
and  parsonage  aid  society. 

2.  The  conference  church  and  parsonage  aid  so¬ 
ciety  shall  be  auxiliary  to  the  general  society  and 
shall  pass  upon  all  applications  for  aid  arising  from 
the  loss  of,  or  damage  to,  church  or  parsonage  prop¬ 
erty  within  the  conference. 

3.  The  conference  society  shall  make  a  full  report 
of  its  work  to  the  conference  at  its  annual  session. 

4.  The  provisions  of  this  society  shall  apply  also 
to  the  district  parsonages,  and  to  homes  of  superan¬ 
nuated  preachers  when  owned  by  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence. 


138 


CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE  AID 


139 


III.  Aid 

J[  244c.  1.  In  case  of  loss  to  church  or  parsonage 

property  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official  board  to 
appoint  three  persons  who  with  the  district  elder  of 
the  district  and  the  pastor  of  the  church  shall  con¬ 
stitute  a  board  of  appraisers.  This  board  shall  send 
the  estimate  of  loss  to  the  conference  church  and 
parsonage  aid  society. 

2.  The  amount  of  aid  given  any  church  or  so¬ 
ciety  shall  be  a  sum  of  money  equal  to  one-half  of 
the  estimated  net  loss,  and  not  more  than  $1,000  in 
any  one  case. 

3.  All  applications  for  aid  shall  be  in  accordance 
with  blank  forms  furnished  by  the  general  society. 

4.  The  adjustment  of  the  claim  shall  be  upon  the 
concurrent  action  of  the  general  and  conference  soci¬ 
eties. 


IV.  Duty  of  Preachers 

jj  244d.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  preacher  in 
charge  of  a  circuit  to  raise  for  church  and  parsonage 
aid  a  sum  not  less  than  ten  cents  per  annum  for  each 
member  in  full  relation  and  forward  the  same  through 
the  conference  treasurer  to  the  treasurer  of  the  gen¬ 
eral  society. 


V.  Reserve  Fund 

U  244e.  That  a  reserve  fund  may  be  first  created, 
the  collection  feature  of  this  plan  shall  be  operative 
at  once. 

VI.  Emergency 

If  244f.  In  case  of  emergency  during  the  quadren- 
nium  1923-1927,  the  general  society  shall  have  power 
to  make  a  special  call  for  funds  to  meet  such  special 
need. 


PART  VIII 


EDUCATIONAL  AND 
BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS 


CHAPTERS 


I.  EDUCATION 

II.  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 

III.  MISSIONARY  WORK 

IV.  SOUTH  AFRICA  MISSION  CONFERENCE 

V.  JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 

VI.  HOME  MISSIONS 

VII.  RELATION  OF  CANADIAN  CONFER¬ 
ENCES 

VIII.  CHURCH  EXTENSION 

IX.  CHARITABLE  INSTITUTIONS 

X.  AGGRESSIVE  EVANGELISM 

XI.  THE  PUBLISHING  HOUSE 


CHAPTER  I 


EDUCATION 
I.  Board  of  Education 

ft  245.  1.  The  general  board  of  education  shall  be 

an  incorporated  body  composed  of  one  bishop,  a  gen¬ 
eral  educational  secretary,  and  as  many  other  mem¬ 
bers  as  there  are  recognized  schools,  all  elected  by  the 
general  conference,  with  due  regard  to  representa¬ 
tion  from  each  school  territory,  with  the  understand¬ 
ing  that  the  presidents  and  principals  of  the  educa¬ 
tional  institutions  are  not  eligible  for  this  election. 
The  members  representing  the  various  school  dis¬ 
tricts  shall  be  nominated  by  the  several  delegations 
composing  the  patronizing  territory  of  the  respective 
schools.  If  for  any  cause  a  member  of  this  board 
shall  cease  to  be  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist 
church  or  moves  from  the  bounds  of  the  patronizing 
territory  of  the  school  he  represents,  his  place  on 
the  board  shall  be  declared  vacant.  Any  vacancy 
on  the  board  of  education  during  the  quadrennium 
shall  be  filled  by  the  executive  committee,  but  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  school  affected  may  nom¬ 
inate. 

2.  The  board  shall  seek  to  promote  the  general 
educational  interest  of  the  Free  Methodist  church. 
It  shall  sustain  an  advisory  relation  to  all  our  educa¬ 
tional  institutions  in  matters  of  buildings,  location, 
general  business  and  policy.  It  shall  administer  such 
funds  as  may  be  committed  to  it  from  time  to  time. 
It  shall  solicit  bequests,  money,  property  and  other 


143 


144 


EDUCATION 


securities  to  be  used  in  furthering  the  cause  of  edu¬ 
cation  in  the  Free  Methodist  church.  It  shall  be  em¬ 
powered  to  acquire,  hold  and  convey  real  estate  and 
to  establish  a  central  bureau  of  information  and  com¬ 
munication  for  the  benefit  of  teachers  and  schools. 

The  board  by  two-thirds  vote  of  its  membership 
and  by  and  with  the  consent  of  the  trustees  of  the 
schools  affected  thereby,  may  merge  two  or  more  of 
our  educational  institutions,  or  otherwise  dispose  of 
any  of  them,  whenever  in  its  judgment  the  highest 
educational  interests  of  the  denomination  will  be  con¬ 
served  by  so  doing. 

The  permanent  endowment  fund  comprises  all 
moneys  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  board  for  perma¬ 
nent  investment,  and  shall  be  invested  in  approved 
securities.  The  interest  therefrom  shall  be  paid  over 
to  our  educational  institutions  for  their  use  and  bene¬ 
fit. 

3.  No  educational  institution  shall  be  inaugurated 
in  the  church  without  first  securing  the  approval  of 
the  board.  Neither  shall  any  recognized  school  of 
the  church  change  its  classification  or  its  location 
without  first  securing  the  consent  of  the  board. 

4.  Whenever  a  school  desires  to  change  its  loca¬ 
tion,  or  its  classification,  it  shall  notify  the  secretary 
of  the  board  of  such  a  desire,  at  least  three  months 
before  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  board.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  notify  the  adjacent 
schools  of  such  desire  so  that  any  objection  such 
schools  may  have  may  be  presented  to  the  board  when 
such  request  is  heard. 

5.  The  board  shall  take  oversight  of  our  schools 
so  as  to  eliminate  as  far  as  practicable  the  element  of 
competition  and  make  the  secondary  schools  contrib¬ 
utory  to  the  recognized  colleges. 

6.  The  board  shall  have  supervision  of  the  patron¬ 
izing  territory  of  each  of  our  schools  and  shall  exer- 


BOARD  OF  EDUCATION 


145 


cise  such  supervision  as  to  give  to  each  institution 
proper  territory  for  its  prosperity  in  common  with 
the  other  schools  of  its  class.  But  it  shall  not  change 
the  relation  of  any  previously  assigned  territory 
without  the  consent  of  the  annual  conference  holding 
jurisdiction  over  the  territory  in  question.  The  board 
shall  not  give  its  recognition  to  any  new  institution 
as  a  college  within  a  radius  of  one  thousand  miles  of 
those  already  recognized  or  to  any  academy  or  sem¬ 
inary  within  the  radius  of  five  hundred  miles  of  any 
recognized  school.  This  shall  not  apply  to  schools 
located,  one  in  the  United  States  and  the  other  in 
Canada. 

7.  The  board  shall  investigate  from  time  to  time 
the  educational  standards  of  the  various  schools  ac¬ 
credited  with  the  board,  and  shall  require  an  annual 
financial  report  from  each  institution,  according  to 
forms  furnished  by  the  board. 

8.  The  officers  of  the  board,  except  the  general 
secretary,  who  shall  be  elected  by  the  general  confer¬ 
ence,  shall  be  elected  by  the  board  at  its  annual 
meetings. 

9.  The  general  secretary  shall  be  the  executive 
officer  of  the  board  and  shall  labor  to  promote  its 
interests. 

10.  The  board  may  solicit  throughout  the  entire 
church,  create  and  administer  a  fund  for  the  endow¬ 
ment  of  Free  Methodist  schools. 

11.  The  board  may  adopt  by-laws  for  the  regula¬ 
tion  of  its  affairs  not  inconsistent  with  the  charter 
and  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Free  Methodist 
church. 

12.  The  board  shall  pay  the  salary  of  the  general 
educational  secretary  as  fixed  by  the  executive  com¬ 
mittee  of  the  church,  and  meet  all  other  of  its  ex¬ 
penses,  or  shall  instruct  the  various  educational  in¬ 
stitutions  which  he  may  be  called  upon  to  serve  from 


146 


EDUCATION 


time  to  time,  to  pay  the  secretary’s  salary  during  such 
period. 


II.  Annual  Conference  Board 

246.  1.  Each  annual  conference  may  organize 

within  its  bounds  an  annual  conference  board  of  ed¬ 
ucation.  This  board  shall  consist  of  at  least  one  and 
not  more  than  three  ministers  and  an  equal  number 
of  laymen  to  be  elected  by  the  annual  conference. 

2.  The  ministerial  members  of  the  conference 
board  of  education  shall  report  the  acts  and  affairs 
of  the  conference  board  to  the  annual  conference,  and 
shall  transmit  the  instructions  and  acts  of  the  an¬ 
nual  conference  relative  to  education  and  educational 
institutions  to  the  general  board  of  education. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  conference  board 
of  education,  (1)  to  organize  by  the  election  of  a 
president  and  secretary-treasurer  to  serve  one  year 
or  until  their  successors  are  elected,  and  to  appoint 
such  committees  as  are  necessary  to  accomplish  its 
work;  (2)  to  hold  at  least  one  meeting  each  year  for 
the  consideration  and  promotion  within  the  annual 
conference  of  the  general  and  local  interests  of  edu¬ 
cation;  (3)  to  provide  for  a  visitation  each  year  to 
the  educational  institutions  with  which  it  is  associ¬ 
ated;  (4)  to  present  the  cause  of  education  to  the 
annual  conference,  and  assist  as  far  as  possible  in 
raising  money  to  carry  out  the  instructions  of  the 
annual  conference. 

III.  Educational  Institutions 

TT  247.  1.  The  board  of  education  shall  recognize 

as  under  the  auspices  of  the  Free  Methodist  church, 
and  therefore  entitled  to  be  mentioned  in  its  list  of 
educational  institutions  and  to  receive  aid  from  its 
educational  funds,  all  those  schools  of  the  church 


EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS 


147 


which  are  now  known  to  have  the  approval  of  the 
conferences  in  which  they  are  respectively  located 
and  of  such  other  conferences  as  may  be  associated 
in  their  management;  and  also,  all  such  schools  as 
shall  be  established  hereafter  in  accordance  with  the 
foregoing  conditions,  and  with  the  approval  of  the 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  board  of  education 
expressed  by  vote  in  one  of  its  regular  meetings. 

2.  No  educational  institution  shall  be  recognized 
by  the  board  as  provided  for  in  the  foregoing  part  of 
this  section,  unless  it  is  established  and  operated  in 
accordance  w’ith  the  conditions  herein  before  men¬ 
tioned,  and  unless  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  the 
board  of  trustees  and  of  the  members  of  the  faculty 
shall  be  members  of  the  Free  Methodist  church,  and 
no  new  school  be  approved  unless  the  deed  to  the 
property  shall  contain  the  “Trust  Clause”  required 
by  the  Discipline  for  church  property. 

3.  In  case  any  institution  be  hereafter  established 
contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the  foregoing  part  of 
this  chapter,  the  board  of  education,  on  formal  com¬ 
plaint  made  to  it  by  an  annual  conference  or  the 
trustee  board  of  any  of  our  recognized  schools  inter¬ 
ested,  shall  fix  the  time  and  place  of  hearing  the 
authorities  of  said  institution,  and  other  institutions 
affected  thereby,  and  shall  authorize  such  adjustment 
of  the  relations  between  them  as  shall  seem  wise  and 
proper  under  the  circumstances. 

4.  The  schools  now  and  hereby  recognized  as  un¬ 
der  the  auspices  of  the  Free  Methodist  church  are: 

Greenville  College. 

Seattle  Pacific  College. 

The  Central  Academy  and  College. 

Wessington  Springs  Seminary  (Junior  College). 

Spring  Arbor  Seminary  (Junior  College). 

The  A.  M.  Chesbrough  Seminary  (Junior  College). 

Los  Angeles  Free  Methodist  Seminary. 


148 


EDUCATION 


Evansville  Seminary. 

McKinney  Junior  College. 

Lome  Park  Seminary. 

IV.  Duties  of  Pastors 

248.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  pastor  to 

preach  on  Christian  education  and  to  take  a  public 
collection  once  a  year,  in  every  congregation  over 
which  he  presides,  for  general  educational  purposes. 
The  money  so  collected  shall  be  paid  over  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  annual  conference  auxiliary  to  the 
board  of  education,  if  such  an  auxiliary  exists;  but 
where  there  is  no  such  auxiliary,  the  money  shall  be 
forwarded  to  the  treasurer  of  the  annual  conference. 
The  first  Sunday  in  November  is  recommended  as  the 
time  for  taking  such  collections. 

This  fund  shall  be  administered  by  the  board  of 
education  for  general  educational  purposes. 

2.  It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  every  pastor  to 
arrange  for  every  Sunday-school  under  his  charge  to 
observe  the  first  Sunday  in  June,  or,  if  that  da-te  is 
impracticable,  the  most  convenient  Sabbath  in  the 
month  of  June,  as  children’s  day,  in  which  one  of  the 
regular  services  shall  be  a  religious  sendee  for  the 
children.  As  a  part  of  the  service  a  collection  shall 
be  taken  for  the  Sunday-school  children’s  fund.  He 
shall  forward  the  amount  so  collected  directly  to  the 
treasurer  of  his  conference. 

This  fund  shall  be  administered  by  the  board  of 
education  and  shall  be  used  to  aid  those  young  people 
in  the  Free  Methodist  church  who  feel  called  of  God 
to  some  form  of  Christian  work  in  the  Free  Method¬ 
ist  church  and  who  need  financial  help  to  continue 
their  education  in  one  of  the  church  schools.  Aid 
from  the  fund  shall  be  granted  only  in  the  form  of 
loans  under  conditions  prescribed  by  the  board.  How- 


EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS 


149 


ever  the  board  may  by  a  two-thirds  vote  cancel  loans 
for  certain  causes  which  to  them  seem  sufficient. 

3.  All  our  educational  institutions  are  earnestly 
requested  to  give  free  instruction  in  vocal  music 
each  day,  so  that  our  young  people  will  be  able  to 
start  the  tunes  in  public  services  without  instrumen¬ 
tal  aid. 

248a.  No  school  shall  receive  support  from 
church  funds  nor  be  allowed  to  solicit  money  or  stu¬ 
dents  within  the  denomination  which  fails  to  enforce 
the  following  regulations: 

1.  No  select  fraternal  organization  shall  be  per¬ 
mitted  in  our  schools. 

2.  The  wearing  of  immodest  attire  and  the  use  of 
tobacco  in  any  form  are  prohibited. 

3.  Hazing,  football  and  all  interscholastic  sport 
contests  are  forbidden. 

4.  The  rendering  of  class  plays,  dramas,  and  all 
amateur  theatricals  in  public  and  private  are  forbid¬ 
den.  This  shall  not  be  construed  as  forbidding  the 
proper  and  necessary  instruction  in  education. 

5.  Student  publications  shall  be  censored  by  the 
president  or  principal  and  major  professors  or  teach¬ 
ers  so  that  all  material  inconsistent  with  our  attitude 
as  a  church  devoted  to  separation  from  the  wmrld  and 
committed  to  holiness  shall  be  eliminated  therefrom. 

6.  (1)  All  instruction  in  the  various  departments, 
particularly  in  science  and  the  social  sciences,  shall 
be  positively  in  harmony  with  the  teachings  of  the 
Scriptures  as  generally  interpreted  by  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church  and  set  forth  in  her  Discipline,  and  no 
text-books  or  periodicals  shall  be  adopted  for  class¬ 
room  use,  the  general  influence  of  whose  teachings 
tends  to  destroy  belief  in  the  Bible  as  the  revealed 
Word  of  God  or  to  undermine  faith  in  Christ  as  the 
divine  Son  of  God  and  the  all-sufficient  Savior  of  the 
world. 


150 


EDUCATION 


(2)  No  presidents,  principals,  professors  or  teach¬ 
ers  shall  be  employed  or  retained  in  our  seminaries 
or  colleges,  who  are  not  in  harmony  with  the  above 
rule,  and  any,  who  upon  evidence  of  conduct  or  teach¬ 
ing  to  the  contrary,  shall  be  subject  to  dismissal. 

7.  In  case  of  complaint  for  the  infraction  of  any 
of  these  rules,  said  complaint  shall  first  be  presented 
to  the  general  educational  board,  and  in  case  it  shall 
be  found  valid,  said  complaint  shall  be  referred  to  the 
executive  committee,  which  shall  hear  all  the  evi¬ 
dence,  and  apply  the  penalty  to  any  school  found 
guilty  until  such  school  shall  harmonize  with  the  fore¬ 
going  provisions. 

Resolved,  That  the  general  conference  held  at  Cor¬ 
unna,  Michigan,  June,  1923,  places  itself  unreservedly 
against  the  preaching  and  teaching  of  the  modern 
doctrine  of  evolution. 

248b.  1.  All  endowment  moneys  allotted  to  our 

colleges  and  seminaries  shall  be  held  for  proper  and 
safe  investment  by  the  board  of  education,  and  the 
interest  accruing  therefrom  shall  be  paid  annually  to 
the  proper  representative  of  each  school.  The  gen¬ 
eral  secretary  of  the  board  of  education  or  some 
other  officer  of  said  board  shall  be  designated  as  the 
responsible  person  to  be  held  for  the  safe  invest¬ 
ment  of  said  endowment  funds,  and  shall  be  under 
sufficient  bond  as  per  the  orders  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference. 

2.  The  permanent  endowment  fund  now  held  by 
the  board  of  education,  amounting  to  $100,000.  shall 
be  distributed  pro  rata  among  the  different  institu¬ 


tions  as  follows: 

Greenville  College  24% 

Seattle  Pacific  College  16% 

Central  Academy  and  College  9% 

"Wessington  Springs  Junior  College  9% 
Los  Angeles  F.  M.  Seminary  9% 


EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS 


151 


Evansville  Seminary  9% 

A.  M.  Chesbrough  Seminary  9% 

Spring  Arbor  Seminary  9% 

McKinney  Junior  College  6% 


If  the  McKinney  Junior  College  does  not  qualify  to 
receive  its  apportionment  within  two  years,  it  shall 
be  returned  to  the  general  fund. 

248c.  The  East  Ontario,  West  Ontario  and  Sas¬ 
katchewan  conferences  are  each  allowed  to  retain 
moneys  raised  for  educational  purposes.  See  para¬ 
graph  288  (9). 


CHAPTER  II 


SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 

I.  General  Sunday-school  Board 

IT  249.  1.  A  board,  composed  of  ten  members, 

called  the  Sunday-school  Board  of  the  Free  Method¬ 
ist  Church  of  North  America,  shall  be  appointed  by 
the  general  conference. 

2.  This  board  shall  meet  at  least  once  each  year. 
It  shall  promote,  and  have  general  charge  of,  the  Sun¬ 
day-school  work  of  the  church.  It  shall  cooperate 
with  the  conference  Sunday-school  secretaries,  giving 
them  directions  and  advice. 

3.  This  board  shall  organize  by  electing  a  presi¬ 
dent,  vice-president,  recording  secretary  and  trea¬ 
surer. 

4.  This  board  shall  supervise  the  teacher  training 
work  of  the  church,  arranging  its  courses,  deciding 
upon  the  necessary  text-books,  providing  for  exami¬ 
nations  and  granting  diplomas  to  those  who  complete 
courses  of  study. 

5.  The  expenses  incurred  by  the  meetings  of  the 
general  board  and  the  salary  of  the  general  secretary 
and  his  necessary  office  help  shall  be  paid  by  the  Sun¬ 
day-school  department  of  the  publishing  house.  The 
board  shall  become  responsible  for  all  other  expenses 
which  it  incurs. 

6.  The  members  of  the  Sunday-school  board 
elected  at  the  general  conference  of  1923  are  as  fol¬ 
lows:  W.  H.  Clark,  B.  J.  Vincent,  J.  B.  Lutz,  J.  H. 


152 


SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 


153 


Whiteman,  E.  A.  Holtwick,  G.  W.  Griffith,  G.  A.  Lees, 
A.  G.  Ball,  L.  E.  Cook,  J.  R.  H.  Bell. 


II.  Conference  Sunday-school  Boards 

250.  1.  Each  annual  conference  shall  elect  an¬ 

nually  a  conference  Sunday-school  board  composed 
of  not  less  than  five  members. 

2.  This  board  shall  organize  by  electing  a  presi¬ 
dent,  vice-president,  recording  secretary,  treasurer, 
and  nominate  a  conference  Sunday-school  secretary. 
The  conference  secretary  shall  be  elected  by  the  an¬ 
nual  conference. 

8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  board  to  promote 
and  supervise  the  Sunday-school  work  of  the  confer¬ 
ence  in  harmony  with  the  direction  and  advice  of  the 
general  conference  board. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  board  to  encourage 
the  organization  and  maintenance  of  a  Sunday-school 
in  ev*  ry  society  in  the  conference,  and  to  establish 
mission  Sunday-schools  wherever  practicable. 

5.  The  board  shall  plan  for  the  "holding  of  a  Sun¬ 
day-school  institute,  if  at  all  possible,  in  every  so¬ 
ciety  some  time  during  the  year,  with  J:he  cooperation 
of  the  society  where  the  institutes  are  to  be  held. 

6.  The  board  shall  provide  for  the  holding  of  a 
convention  on  each  district  during  the  year,  cooperat¬ 
ing  with  district  elder  and  district  boards,  when  such 
boards  exist,  in  planning  these  conventions. 

7.  The  board  shall  arrange  for  the  holding  of  spe¬ 
cial  services  or  conferences  in  the  interest  of  Sun¬ 
day-school  work  in  our  general  gatherings,  such  as 
the  general  quarterly  meetings,  camp  meetings,  and 
annual  conferences,  in  cooperation  with  those  having 
charge  of  such  gatherings. 

8.  The  board  shall  make  annual  reports  to  the 


154 


SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 


general  Sunday-school  board  and  also  to  the  annual 
conference. 

9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  conference  Sunday- 
school  secretary  to  administer  the  work  outlined  by 
the  conference  board. 

III.  District  Sunday-school  Boards 

TT  251.  District  Sunday-school  boards  may  be  or¬ 
ganized  wherever  desirable  and  practicable.  The  dis¬ 
trict  board  shall  be  modeled  after  the  conference 
board  and  shall  be  confined  to  the  district,  working 
always  in  harmony  with  the  conference  board. 

IV.  Conference  Sunday-school  Secretaries 

TT  252.  Each  conference  shall  elect  annually  a  con¬ 
ference  Sunday-school  secretary,  or  secretaries.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  conference  Sunday-school 
secretary: 

1.  To  promote  the  Sunday-school  work  in  the  ter¬ 
ritory  under  his  jurisdiction.  .  • 

2.  To  see  that  a  Sunday-school  is  organized  and 
maintained  in  each  society  in  his  conference,  and  to 
establish  mission  Sunday-schools. 

3.  To  see  that  a  Sunday-school  convention  is  held 
on  each  district  during  the  year  and  to  assist  in  such 
conventions,  if  possible. 

4.  To  hold  or  arrange  for  the  holding  of  an  insti¬ 
tute  on  each  circuit,  and  if  possible  at  each  society 
some  time  during  the  year. 

5.  As  often  as  possible  to  arrange  for  the  hold¬ 
ing  of  a  special  service  for  the  promotion  of  Sunday- 
school  interests  at  our  general  gatherings,  such  as 
district  meetings,  camp  meetings  and  conferences. 

6.  To  cooperate  with  the  general  Sunday-school 
board,  carrying  out  its  suggestions  and  making  annual 
reports  to  the  board. 


SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 


155 


7.  To  extend  the  circulation  of  our  Sunday-school 
literature. 

8.  To  present  a  report  to  the  annual  conference. 

V.  Duties  of  Pastors 

253.  For  the  moral  and  religious  instruction  of 
the  children  it  shall  be  the  special  duty  of  preachers 
having  charge  of  circuits,  with  the  aid  of  the  other 
preachers : 

1.  To  form  Sunday-schools  in  all  our  congrega¬ 
tions  where  ten  children  can  be  collected  for  that  pur¬ 
pose,  and  to  engage  the  cooperation  of  as  many  of 
our  members  as  they  can;  to  visit  the  schools  as  often 
as  practicable;  to  preach  on  the  subject  of  Sunday- 
schools  and  religious  instruction  in  each  congregation 
at  least  once  during  the  year;  to  form  Bible  classes 
wherever  they  can  for  the  instruction  of  the  larger 
children  and  youth  and  where  they  cannot  superin¬ 
tend  them  personally,  to  see  that  suitable  teachers 
are  provided  for  that  purpose;  to  establish  and  main¬ 
tain  mission  Sunday-schools  wherever  there  is  an 
opening,  and  in  such  schools  members  of  the  church 
shall  be  employed  as  officers  and  teachers  so  far  as 
practicable. 

2.  To  enforce  faithfully  upon  parents  and  Sunday- 
school  teachers  the  great  importance  of  instructing 
children  in  the  doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  re¬ 
ligion;  to  preach  to  the  children,  and  to  see  that  the 
church  Catechism  is  taught  them  either  in  Sunday- 
school  or  in  special  meetings  appointed  for  that  pur¬ 
pose. 

3.  To  pay  special  attention  to  the  children,  speak¬ 
ing  to  them  personally  and  kindly  upon  the  subject 
of  experimental  and  practical  godliness,  according  to 
their  capacity,  pray  earnestly  for  them,  and  diligently 
instruct  and  exhort  all  parents  to  dedicate  their  chil- 


156 


SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 


dren  to  the  Lord,  in  baptism,  as  early  as  convenient. 

4.  He  shall  lay  before  each  session  of  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference,  to  be  entered  on  its  journal,  the 
number  and  state  of  the  Sunday-schools  and  Bible 
classes  in  his  charge,  and  the  extent  to  which  he  has 
preached  to  the  children  and  catechised  them,  and 
make  the  required  report  on  Sunday-schools  to  his 
annual  conference.  In  reporting  to  the  quarterly  and 
annual  conferences  the  total  membership  of  the  Sun¬ 
day-schools,  he  shall  include,  under  separate  heads, 
the  home  and  cradle  roll  departments. 

5.  He  shall  arrange  for  the  Sunday-schools  under 
his  charge  to  observe  children’s  day  in  June. 


VI.  Local  Sunday-school  Board 

254.  1.  A  Sunday-school  board  meeting  shall  be 

held  in  each  society  once  a  month  whenever  prac¬ 
ticable,  composed  of  the  pastors,  officers,  teachers 
and  department  superintendents  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  All  officers  and  teachers  regularly  elected 
by  the  Sunday-school  board  shall  be  members  of  the 
board  and  hold  office  until  their  successors  are 
elected. 

2.  The  officers  of  this  Sunday-school  board  shall 
be  a  president,  vice-president,  a  secretary  and  a 
treasurer,  who  shall  be  elected  at  the  beginning  of 
each  conference  year. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Sunday-school  board 
to  elect  one  or  more  assistant  superintendents,  who 
also  shall  be  elected  at  the  beginning  of  each  confer¬ 
ence  year.  The  teachers  shall  be  elected  by  the  Sun¬ 
day-school  board.  The  superintendent  may  nominate. 

4.  In  the  organization  of  new  schools,  the  preach¬ 
er  or  preachers  in  charge  and  the  superintendent  shall 
appoint  the  teachers,  and  these  with  the  preacher  or 


SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 


157 


preachers  in  charge  and  the  superintendent  shall  con¬ 
stitute  the  Sunday-school  board  at  its  beginning. 

5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  board  to  decide  upon 
the  Sunday-school  literature  and  to  attend  to  all  other 
business  connected  with  the  Sunday-school  not  other¬ 
wise  provided  for  in  the  Discipline. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  to  provide  for 
a  proper  Christmas  service,  but  in  no  case  shall 
Christmas  trees  be  allowed.  This  board  may  also 
provide  for  proper  outings  for  the  Sunday-school, 
with  the  distinct  understanding  that  nothing  shall  be 
permitted  out  of  harmony  with  the  spirit  and  princi¬ 
ples  of  the  Free  Methodist  Discipline. 

7.  The  regular  meetings  of  the  board  shall  be  re¬ 
garded  as  the  workers’  conference,  and  shall  observe 
the  following  order: 

ORDER  OF  BUSINESS 

1.  Devotional  exercises. 

2.  Calling  of  the  roll. 

3.  Reading  the  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting. 

4.  Election  of  officers  for  the  year — a  president, 
vice-president,  secretary  and  treasurer.  (This  ap¬ 
plies  to  the  first  meeting  of  the  conference  year  only.) 

5.  Quarterly  report  of  the  secretary  of  the  Sun¬ 
day-school. 

6.  Report  of  the  treasurer. 

7.  Report  of  superintendent. 

8.  Report  of  department  superintendents. 

9.  Reports  of  teachers  upon  the  condition  of  their 

respective  classes. 

10.  Is  the  school  properly  graded? 

11.  Election  of  teachers.  (This  applies  to  the  first 
meeting  of  the  conference  year  only.) 

12.  Election  of  teachers  to  fill  vacancies. 

13.  Consideration  of  the  Sunday-school  literature. 


358 


SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 


14.  Reports  of  committees. 

15.  Appointment  of  committees. 

1G.  Unfinished  business. 

17.  New  business. 

IS.  Reading  of  the  minutes. 

19.  Adjournment. 

VII.  Sunday-school  Superintendent 

If  255.  The  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school 
shall  be  elected  by  ballot  at  a  society  meeting.  The 
preacher  in  charge  may  nominate.  See  paragraphs 
128  (1),  180  (3)  and  132  (3). 

VIII.  Offerings  for  Sunday-school  Work 

If  256.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  Sunday-school 
to  foi'ward  each  quarter  one  tithe  of  the  regular 
offerings  to  the  treasurer  of  the  conference  Sunday- 
school  board,  who  will  retain  three-fourths  of  this 
amount  for  the  annual  conference  Sunday-school 
work,  and  forward  one-fourth  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
general  Sunday-school  board  to  be  used  in  general 
Sunday-school  promotion  work  throughout  the  de¬ 
nomination. 


CHAPTER  III 


MISSIONARY  WORK 

GENERAL  MISSIONARY  BOARD 

!.  Name  and  Objects 

257.  The  name  of  this  board  is  the  General 
Missionary  Board  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  of 
North  America.  The  objects  for  which  this  corpora¬ 
tion  is  formed  are: 

1.  To  collect,  receive,  hold,  expend,  pay  out  or 
dispose  of  any  property,  real  or  personal,  or  of  what¬ 
ever  nature  and  wherever  situate  as  allowed  by  law, 
that  may  be  given,  obtained  or  held  in  aid  of  the  gen¬ 
eral  missionary  work  of  the  Free  Methodist  church. 

2.  To  acquire  by  purchase,  gifts  or  devise,  real 
estate  or  personal  property  in  the  Fnited  States  of 
North  America,  or  in  foreign  lands,  and  to  hold  or 
sell  or  convey  the  same  as  in  its  judgment  may  be 
necessary  in  the  prosecution  of  its  missionary  work. 

II.  Membership — Officers — Duties 

ft  258.  1.  The  general  missionary  board  shall  be 
composed  of  the  bishops,  the  president  of  the  wo¬ 
man’s  missionary  society,  and  three  other  members 
of  said  society  elected  by  the  general  society  at  its 
quadrennial  meeting;  one  traveling  elder  and  one  lay¬ 
man  from  each  of  the  general  conference  missionary 
districts,  and  a  secretary  to  be  elected  by  ballot  by 


159 


160 


GENERAL  MISSIONARY  BOARD 


the  general  conference.  The  president  of  the  mis¬ 
sionary  board  shall  be  elected  from  their  own  num¬ 
ber.  The  treasurer  shall  be  elected  by  the  board  and 
may  be  chosen  from  outside  of  its  members.  This 
board  shall  continue  in  office  until  the  close  of  the 
next  session  of  the  general  conference  and  until 
others  shall  be  elected  in  their  places.  It  shall  have 
an  annual  meeting,  a  personal  notice  of  which,  signed 
by  the  president  and  secretary,  shall  be  sent  to  each 
member  of  the  board  three  weeks  previous  to  the 
meeting  and  shall  appear  in  two  issues  of  the  “Free 
Methodist.” 

2.  If  from  any  cause  a  member  of  this  board  shall 
cease  to  be  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist  church, 
or  shall  remove  from  the  bounds  of  the  district  that 
he  represents,  his  place  upon  the  board  shall  be  de¬ 
clared  vacant.  Vacancies  shall  be  filled  by  the  board 
from  the  districts  where  the  vacancy  occurs,  except¬ 
ing  the  office  of  the  secretary,  which  vacancy  shall  be 
filled  by  the  executive  committee. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  board  to  act  as  an 
advisory  committee  to  its  directors. 

259.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  to  take 
charge  of  all  moneys  raised  for  general,  foreign  and 
home  missionary  work,  and  appropriate  the  same  to 
the  purposes  for  which  they  were  contributed. 

If  260.  Titles  to  land  purchased  for  missions  in 
foreign  lands  shall  be  in  the  name  of  the  General  Mis¬ 
sionary  Board  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  of  North 
America,  and  deeded  to  trustees  elected  by  the  gen¬ 
eral  missionary  board,  the  tenure  of  whose  office  shall 
be  subject  to  said  board. 

FJ26I.  1.  The  missionary  board  shall  publish  in 
the  official  organ  of  the  church  quarterly  reports  of 
all  receipts,  and  make  full  reports  to  each  annual 
conference,  of  receipts  for  the  preceding  year;  and 
to  the  general  conference  at  its  regular  sessions  of 


GENERAL  MISSIONARY  BOARD 


161 


all  moneys  received  and  disbursed  by  it,  and  of  the 
results  of  such  appropriations  so  far  as  can  be  as¬ 
certained. 

2.  The  president  of  the  board  shall,  with  the  con¬ 
sent  of  a  majority  of  its  members,  make  a  general 
call  from  time  to  time,  for  special  collections,  to  pro¬ 
vide  funds  for  any  contingency  that  may  arise  in  the 
mission  field. 

III.  General  Conference  Missionary  Districts 

262.  The  various  annual  conferences  shall  be 
grouped  in  six  general  conference  missionary  dis¬ 
tricts,  as  follows:  District  No.  1— -Genesee,  Oil  City, 
East  Ontario  and  West  Ontario.  No.  2 — New  York, 
Susquehanna,  Pittsburgh  and  Ohio.  No.  3 — East 
Michigan,  North  Michigan,  Michigan  and  North  In¬ 
diana.  No.  4 — Wabash,  Central  Illinois,  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee,  Oklahoma,  Missouri,  Arkansas  and 
Southern  Missouri,  Texas,  East  Texas,  Louisiana  and 
Georgia  and  Florida.  No.  5 — Kansas,  North  Dakota, 
South  Dakota,  North  Minnesota,  Minnesota  and 
Northern  Iowa,  Iowa,  West  Iowa,  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
Platte  River,  Nebraska  and  West  Kansas.  No.  6 — ■ 
Columbia  River,  Washington,  Oregon,  Southern  Ore¬ 
gon,  California,  Southern  California,  Colorado,  Al¬ 
berta  and  Saskatchewan. 

IV.  Members  of  the  General  Missionary  Board 

ft  263.  Members  of  the  general  missionary  board 
elected  at  the  general  conference  of  1923  are  as  fol¬ 
lows:  Bishops — Walter  A.  Sellew,  William  Pearce, 
William  H.  Clark,  David  S.  Warner.  General  secre¬ 
tary — W.  B.  Olmstead.  Representing  District  No.  1 
— J.  M.  Critchlow,  Grant  C.  Woods.  No.  2 — R.  A. 
Zahniser,  W.  F.  Guffey.  No.  3 — H.  Montgomery,  Pe¬ 
ter  White.  No.  4 — C.  E.  Harroun,  A.  C.  Enderlin. 
No.  5 — A.  L.  Whitcomb,  A.  W.  Gillingham.  No.  6 — 


162 


GENERAL  MISSIONARY  BOARD 


W.  W.  Vinson,  A.  Verkuyl.  The  Woman’s  Mission¬ 
ary  Society — Mary  L.  Coleman,  president,  Carrie  T. 
Burritt,  Emma  L.  Hogue,  Agnes  Benn. 

V.  Directors  of  the  General  Missionary  Board 

ft  264.  1.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  general  mis¬ 

sionary  board  subsequent  to  each  session  of  the  gen¬ 
eral  conference,  said  board  shall  elect  by  ballot  from 
its  members  seven  persons,  who  shall  constitute  a 
board  of  directors.  One  of  these  at  least  shall  be  a 
member  of  the  Woman’s  Missionary  Society,  and  not 
more  than  two  of  these  shall  be  bishops. 

2.  The  following  named  persons  were  duly  elected 
as  directors  of  the  general  missionary  board  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  said  board  held  in  Corunna, 
Michigan,  in  June,  1923:  Walter  A.  Sellew,  William 
Pearce,  William  B.  Olmstead,  John  M.  Critchlow, 
W.  W.  Vinson,  P.  White,  Mary  L.  Coleman.  The 
board  of  directors  shall  be  elected  annually. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  directors  of  the 
board  to  take  charge  of  all  moneys  raised  for  general, 
foreign  and  home  missionary  work,  and  appropriate 
the  same  to  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  con¬ 
tributed. 

4.  The  directors  of  the  board  shall  accept  and  ap¬ 
point  missionaries  to  their  respective  fields,  order 
the  expenditure  of  funds  upon  each  field,  make  appro¬ 
priations  from  the  contingent  fund  to  meet  exigencies 
as  they  may  arise  from  time  to  time,  and  perform  all 
the  duties  of  the  board  and  such  other  work  as  is  con¬ 
templated  in  the  articles  of  incorporation.  They  shall 
have  authority  to  authorize  the  ordination  of  a  mis¬ 
sionary  candidate  if  they  judge  it  expedient. 

VI.  Secretary 

fl265.  The  secretary  of  the  general  missionary 
board  shall  keep  the  records  of  the  board,  receive  and 


GENERAL  MISSIONARY  BOARD 


163 


answer  all  correspondence  relating  to  the  missionary 
work  of  the  church,  and  pay  over  to  the  treasurer  of 
the  board  all  moneys  received  by  him,  taking  his  re¬ 
ceipt  for  the  same.  He  shall  also  have  charge  of  the 
missionary  interests  of  the  church,  subject  to  the  or¬ 
ders  and  under  direction  of  the  directors  of  the  board, 
excepting  in  some  sudden  emergency,  when  he  may 
be  at  liberty  to  act  without  waiting  for  orders  from 
the  directors,  provided  that  such  action  taken  shall 
be  subject  to  the  approval  or  disapproval  of  the  board 
of  directors.  He  may  with  the  consent  of  the  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  board  of  directors  and  a  majority  of  the 
directors  make  general  calls  from  time  to  time  for 
special  collections  or  for  donations  for  some  partic¬ 
ular  purpose  in  order  to  provide  for  contingencies 
that  may  arise  on  the  mission  fields.  He  shall  make 
yearly,  or  whenever  requested  by  the  board  of  di¬ 
rectors  of  the  board,  a  full  and  detailed  report  to  the 
board  of  all  business  pertaining  to  both  the  mission¬ 
aries  and  the  mission  stations. 

VII.  Treasurer 

ft  266.  The  treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys  ac¬ 
cruing  to  foreign,  general  and  home  missions  by  col¬ 
lections,  donations,  bequests  or  otherwise,  giving  re¬ 
ceipts  for  the  same,  and  shall  pay  over,  upon  order  of 
the  secretary,  whatever  sums  have  been  appropriated 
by  the  directors  of  the  board.  He  shall  deposit  all 
funds  in  some  national  bank  or  trust  company,  se¬ 
lected  by  the  board,  in  the  name  of  the  General  Mis¬ 
sionary  Board  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  of 
North  America,  to  be  drawn  only  upon  the  order  of 
the  secretary  and  treasurer. 

VIII.  Duties  of  Preachers  in  Charge 

ft  267.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  preacher  in 
charge  of  a  circuit  to  hold  one  or  more  missionary 


164 


GENERAL  MISSIONARY  BOARD 


meetings  on  his  circuit  during  the  year,  and  take  a 
collection  and  circulate  a  subscription  for  the  support 
of  foreign  and  home  missions. 

2.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  raise  for  general 
missions,  by  public  collections  or  otherwise,  a  sum 
not  less  than  eighteen  cents  per  annum,  for  each  mem¬ 
ber  in  full  relation,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  treasurer 
of  the  general  missionary  board. 

IX.  Annual  Conference  Missionary  Funds 

268.  Each  annual  conference  may,  from  time  to 
time,  by  vote,  appropriate  of  its  mission  funds  such 
sums  to  the  general  missionary  board  as  in  its  judg¬ 
ment  may  be  deemed  proper.  Each  annual  confer¬ 
ence  may,  by  such  means  as  it  shall  judge  best,  raise 
funds  for  the  support  of  missions  within  its  bounds. 


CHAPTEE  IV 


SOUTH  AFRICA  MISSION  CONFERENCE 

I.  A  Mission  Conference 

Jf  270.  The  South  Africa  conference  shall  be  a 
mission  conference  under  the  control  of  the  general 
missionary  board  and  all  its  doings  shall  be  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  missionary  board. 

II.  Membership 

ft  271.  There  shall  be  three  classes  of  membership 
as  follows: 

1.  Ministerial  Members — -Missionaries  who  are 
members  in  full  relation  of  any  conference  in  Amer¬ 
ica,  and  who  may  have  their  certificates  of  standing 
at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  this  conference, 
shall  be  members  of  this  conference  in  full  relation, 
as  well  as  those  who  may  be  regularly  admitted  here¬ 
after,  either  by  certificates  of  standing,  or  from  the 
condition  of  preachers  on  trial.  Native  preachers 
may  be  received  into  the  conference  and  ordained,  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  provisions  of  the  discipline,  paragraphs 
274,  150,  151,  155,  156. 

2.  Acting  Missionary  Members- — All  missionaries 
on  the  field  within  the  bounds  of  the  conference,  who 
hold  credentials  from  the  missionary  board,  and  who 
shall  have  been  on  the  field  two  years,  and  have 
passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  the  required 
course  of  study,  shall  be  members  of  the  conference. 

3.  Native  Lay  Members— -These  shall  be  selected 


165 


166  SOUTH  AFRICA  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


by  their  respective  circuits,  according  to  the  Disci¬ 
pline.  Each  charge,  circuit  or  station  shall  be  enti¬ 
tled  to  one  delegate,  and  whenever  there  shall  be 
more  than  two  missionaries  upon  any  charge,  circuit 
or  station,  entitled  to  a  vote  in  the  conference,  then 
that  charge,  circuit  or  station  shall  be  entitled  to  an 
additional  delegate.  When  there  are  two  missionaries 
on  a  station  who  are  entitled  to  a  vote  in  the  confer¬ 
ence,  if  the  native  church  contributes  to  the  evangel¬ 
ist’s  support  up  to  the  amount  of  £24  0  0a  year, 
then  that  church  shall  be  entitled  to  an  additional 
delegate  in  the  annual  conference. 

v  _  _  „ 

III.  Prerogatives  Restricted 

ft  272.  1.  This  conference  shall  not  elect  delegates 
to  the  general  conference  or  vote  on  constitutional 
changes. 

2.  The  three  classes  of  members  above  specified 
shall  sit  and  vote  as  one  body  on  all  matters  coming 
up  before  the  conference,  according  to  the  Discipline, 
with  the  exception  of  the  reserved  subjects  which 
shall  be  considered  in  the  missionaries’  meeting  ac¬ 
cording  to  paragraph  273. 

IV.  The  Missionaries’  Meeting 

IT  273.  1.  In  connection  with  and  as  a  part  of  the 

conference  session  there  shall  be  a  meeting  of  the 
missionaries  who  shall  sit  and  vote  apart  from  the 
conference.  This  meeting  shall  be  known  as  ‘‘The 
Missionaries’  Meeting.” 

2.  All  missionaries  within  the  bounds  of  the  con¬ 
ference,  who  hold  credentials  from  the  board  and  who 
have  been  on  the  field  the  two  years  required  by  the 
rules  shall  be  members  of  the  missionaries’  meeting. 
Any  missionary,  however,  who  shall  have  been  reg¬ 
ularly  appointed  to  the  charge  of  a  mission  station, 


SOUTH  AFRICA  MISSION  CONFERENCE  167 


or  of  a  mission  school,  or  is  a  member  of  the  annual 
conference  in  full  relation,  before  the  expiration  of 
the  two  years  above  referred  to,  shall  be  a  member 
of  this  meeting  after  having  been  one  year  on  the 
field,  and  after  having  passed  the  first  year's  exam¬ 
ination  in  the  study  of  the  language. 

4.  The  missionaries’  meeting  shall  consider  the 
following  reserved  subjects: 

(1)  It  shall  elect  district  elders,  according  to  the 
Discipline. 

(2)  It  shall  appoint  through  its  stationing  com¬ 
mittee  all  missionaries  laboring  within  the  bounds  of 
the  conference,  including  those  in  school  and  farm 
and  medical  work,  to  their  respective  fields.  It  shall 
also  appoint  the  native  pastors  and  evangelists  to 
their  fields  of  labor.  All  appointments  shall  be  made 
by  a  stationing  committee  consisting  of  the  district 
elders  and  an  equal  number  of  laymen,  elected  by  the 
missionaries’  meeting.  The  president  of  the  confer¬ 
ence  shall  be  chairman  of  the  stationing  committee. 
However,  this  order  of  procedure  may  be  changed  by 
the  missionary  board  should  it  deem  best  at  any  time 
to  do  so. 

(3)  It  shall  pass  the  character  of  ministerial  or 
acting  missionary  members  of  the  conference,  and 
shall  investigate  any  questions  or  complaints  affecting 
the  character  of  ministerial  or  acting  missionary 
members  of  the  conference,  according  to  the  rules. 

(4)  It  shall  make  all  requests  for  appropriations 
from  the  general  missionary  board,  according  to  the 
rules,  and,  with  the  approval  of  the  missionary  secre¬ 
tary,  it  shall  apply  on  the  field  moneys  appropriated 
by  the  board. 

274.  1.  The  question  of  receiving  any  one  on 

trial  or  in  full  relation  into  the  conference,  or  of 
electing  to  deacon’s  or  elder’s  orders  shall  not  be 
brought  before  the  conference  unless  the  case  of  each 


168  SOUTH  AFRICA  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


individual  has  been  first  considered  by  the  mission¬ 
aries’  meeting  and  that  body  has  by  a  majority  vote 
recommended  that  the  person  be  so  received  or 
elected. 

2.  Acting  missionary  members  may  be  elected  to 
orders  and  ordained  after  meeting  the  requirements 
of  each  class,  according  to  paragraphs  120,  155,  156, 
of  the  Discipline. 

V.  The  Executive  Committee 

TT  275.  1.  The  executive  committee  shall  consist  of 
the  president  and  secretary  and  the  district  elders  or 
superintendents  of  the  conference.  The  president 
and  secretary  shall  be  chairman  and  secretary,  re¬ 
spectively,  of  the  executive  committee. 

2.  The  executive  committee  shall  have  power  dur¬ 
ing  the  interim  of  the  annual  missionaries’  meeting 
to  transact  any  business  that  would  ordinarily  come 
before  the  missionaries’  meeting.  When  in  the  judg¬ 
ment  of  a  majority  of  the  committee  it  is  deemed  ad¬ 
visable,  a  special  meeting  of  the  missionaries  may  be 
called.  Timely  notice  of  such  special  meeting  shall 
be  given  and  members  should  endeavor  to  be  present. 
See  paragraph  434. 


CHAPTER  V 


JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 

I.  Membership 

fl  276.  There  shall  be  three  classes  of  membership 
as  follows: 

1.  Ministerial  Members: 

(1)  Missionaries  and  Japanese  preachers  holding 
membership  in  good  standing  in  conferences  in  Amer¬ 
ica,  and  those  holding  credentials  as  elders  and  dea¬ 
cons  in  Japan,  shall  on  presentation  of  their  certif¬ 
icates  of  standing  or  parchments  become  charter 
members  of  the  conference. 

(2)  Subsequent  to  organization,  Japanese  minis¬ 
terial  members  shall  be  received  into  conference 
membership  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  the  Disci¬ 
pline.  See  paragraphs  150-152. 

(3)  Subsequent  to  organization,  foreign  mission¬ 
aries  eligible  to  membership  in  this  conference,  shall 
have  been  on  the  field  two  years  and  shall  have  com¬ 
pleted  the  required  course  of  language  study  as  pre¬ 
scribed  by  the  mission. 

2.  Lay  Members: 

Lay  members  shall  be  elected  according  to  the  Dis¬ 
cipline.  See  Par.  106,  120. 

3.  Special  Honorary  Members: 

All  missionaries  in  Japan  who  are  members  of  the 
mission  in  full  relation  and  who  are  not  eligible  to 
conference  membership  shall  be  known  as  special 
honorary  members. 


169 


170 


JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


II.  Churches 

TT  277.  1.  Classification  of  Churches: 

(1)  Self-supporting  Churches.  A  self-supporting 
church  is  one  which  pays  all  of  its  current  expenses 
and  both  the  salary  of  its  pastor  and  any  other 
worker. 

(2)  Aided  Churches:  An  aided  church  is  one 
which  pays  all  of  its  current  expenses,  including  the 
rent,  and  not  less  than  one-half  of  the  pastor's  or 
worker's  salary. 

(3)  Probationary  Churches:  A  probationary 
church  is  one  which  pays  all  current  expenses,  in¬ 
cluding  the  rent,  and  not  less  than  one-fourth  of  the 
pastor's  or  worker's  salary. 

(4)  Mission  Churches:  A  mission  church  is  one 
which  has  not  reached  the  status  of  a  probationary 
church. 

2.  Relation  of  Churches  to  the  Conference: 

(1)  Self-supporting  churches  shall  be  under  the 
control  of  the  conference  and  shall  enjoy  all  the  priv¬ 
ileges  of  full  relationship  therein.  See  Par.  106. 

(2)  Aided  churches  shall  enjoy  the  same  priv¬ 
ileges  as  self-supporting  churches.  But  if  within  a 
period  of  five  years  said  aided  churches  do  not  reach 
the  status  of  self-supporting  churches,  they  shall  for¬ 
feit  their  right  to  a  vote  in  the  conference. 

(3)  Probationary  churches  shall  be  under  the 
control  of  the  conference  and  shall  be  entitled  to  non¬ 
voting  lay  representation  in  the  conference;  such  lay 
delegates  being  designated  as  lay  advisory  delegates. 
But  if  within  a  period  of  three  years  said  probation¬ 
ary  churches  do  not  attain  to  the  status  of  aided 
churches,  they  shall  forfeit  their  representation  in 
the  conference. 

(4)  Mission  churches  and  stations  shall  be  under 
the  control  of  the  mission  and  shall  have  no  right  to 


JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


171 


lay  representation  in  the  conference.  On  attaining  to 
the  status  of  a  probationary  church,  a  mission  church 
shall,  on  a  written  application  signed  by  the  chair¬ 
man  and  secretary  of  the  official  board  and  the  mis¬ 
sionary  in  charge,  be  placed  under  the  control  of  the 
conference. 


III.  Stationing  Committee 

TC  278.  1.  The  district  elders  and  an  equal  num¬ 

ber  of  lay  members  to  be  elected  by  ballot  the  first 
day  of  the  session,  together  with  the  president  of  the 
conference  and  one  foreign  missionary  elected  by  the 
mission,  shall  constitute  a  stationing  committee,  of 
which  the  president  shall  be  chairman,  and  have  a 
casting  vote. 

2.  This  committee  shall  appoint  pastors  and 
workers  to  such  churches  as  are  under  the  jurisdic¬ 
tion  of  the  conference.  All  other  pastors  and  work¬ 
ers  shall  be  stationed  by  the  mission.  Pastors  and 
workers  shall  be  appointed  each  year  to  their  fields 
of  labor  and  may  be  returned  to  the  same  circuit 
whenever  in  the  judgment  of  the  stationing  commit¬ 
tee  the  needs  of  the  work  require  it. 

IV.  Advisory  Board 

279.  1.  There  shall  be  an  advisory  board  con¬ 

sisting  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  mission  and 
an  equal  number  of  Japanese  elders  elected  by  the 
conference. 

2.  The  advisory  board  shall  have  the  right  to 
make  suggestions  with  respect  to  the  appointment  of 
missionaries  by  the  mission,  and  the  location  of  new 
missions. 

3.  This  board  shall  act  on  all  matters  within  its 
jurisdiction  as  specified  elsewhere  and  shall  also  act 
upon  all  matters  referred  to  it  by  the  conference  and 


172 


JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


the  mission  unless  such  matters  shall  not  be  consid¬ 
ered  within  its  jurisdiction. 

V.  Finances 

If  280.  1.  Funds  shall  be  classified  under  three 

heads  as  follows: 

(1)  Funds  appropriated  by  the  missionary  board 
for  the  missionaries  and  their  work,  which  shall  be 
controlled  by  the  mission. 

(2)  Funds  raised  by  the  conference  and  by  the 
self-supporting  churches  for  their  work  which  shall 
be  under  their  respective  control. 

(3)  Funds  raised  by  the  aided  and  probationary 
churches  for  their  work,  which  shall  be  controlled  by 
them  except  in  the  instance  of  the  salaries  of  the  pas¬ 
tors  and  workers. 

2.  Salaries  of  pastors  and  workers: 

(1)  Salaries  of  pastors  and  workers  serving  self- 
supporting  churches  shall  be  determined  according  to 
the  Discipline,  Par.  216. 

(2)  Salaries  of  pastors  and  workers  serving 
aided  and  probationary  churches  shall  be  determined 
by  the  advisory  board,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
mission. 

(3)  Salaries  of  pastors  and  workers  serving  mis¬ 
sion  churches  and  stations  shall  be  determined  by 
the  mission. 

3.  All  requests  for  funds  from  the  missionary 
board  shall  be  made  through  the  mission. 

4.  A  pastor  or  worker  serving  an  aided  or  proba¬ 
tionary  church  shall  in  case  of  special  financial  need, 
present  his  need  to  the  official  board  of  the  church 
which  he  is  serving  (and  not  to  the  mission)  and 
whatever  amount  is  considered  necessary  and  is 
agreed  to  by  the  advisory  board  shall  be  paid  by  the 
local  church  and  the  mission  in  proportion  to  the 


JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


173 


amount  of  the  pastor’s  or  worker’s  salary  assumed 
by  each. 

5.  Expenses  to  the  annual  conference: 

(1)  Expenses  of  pastors,  workers  and  delegates 
from  all  self-supporting,  aided,  and  probationary 
churches  to  the  annual  conference  shall  be  defrayed 
by  the  local  societies  which  they  represent,  or  by  a 
fund  created  by  the  conference  for  such  purpose. 

(2)  Necessary  expenses  of  pastors  and  workers 
from  mission  churches  or  stations  may  be  paid  by 
the  mission.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  such  ex¬ 
penses  will  be  provided  from  other  sources. 

VI.  Church  Property 

ft  281.  1.  All  church  and  parsonage  property  in 

which  the  missionary  board  has  funds  invested  shall 
be  held  in  the  name  of  the  Shadan  (Association  of 
Missionaries)  of  the  Japan  Free  Methodist  Mission, 
and  may  be  transferred  or  disposed  of  only  by  the 
permission  of  said  board  and  on  such  terms  as  it  may 
see  fit  to  require. 

2.  Church  and  parsonage  property  toward  which 
the  Japanese  churches  only  have  contributed  funds, 
though  held  in  trust  by  the  Shadan,  shall  not  be  dis¬ 
posed  of  without  duly  consulting  said  churches,  and 
upon  terms  to  which  they  give  their  consent. 

3.  All  expenses  for  repairs  on  church  and  parson¬ 
age  property  and  all  insurance  on  such  property, 
whether  purchased  by  missionary  board  funds  wholly 
or  in  part,  shall  be  paid  by  the  local  church  having 
the  use  of  the  property;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  official  board  to  notify  the  directors  of  the  Shadan 
of  all  repairs  made  and  the  cost  of  the  same. 

VII.  Prerogatives  Restricted 

ft  282.  1.  This  conference  may  elect  delegates  to 

the  genera]  conference,  provided  it  becomes  respon- 


174 


JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


sible  for  the  transportation  expenses  thus  incurred. 

2.  This  conference  shall  not  vote  on  constitu¬ 
tional  changes.  See  paragraph  98. 

VIII.  The  Mission 

ft  283.  1.  The  mission  shall  be  composed  of  for¬ 

eign  missionaries  who  hold  credentials  from  the  mis¬ 
sionary  board,  the  right  of  membership  being  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  conditions  stated  in  the  “Rules  for  Mis¬ 
sionaries,”  and  one  Japanese  elder  who  shall  be 
elected  by  the  conference. 

2.  The  work  of  the  mission  shall  be  administered 
by  an  executive  committee  composed  of  three  of  its 
members  who  may  be  nominated  by  the  mission  and 
who  shall  be  elected  by  the  missionary  board. 

3.  The  territory  in  which  the  mission  is  working 
shall  be  divided  into  districts  by  the  mission.  A  mis¬ 
sionary  shall  be  placed  in  charge  of  each  district,  and 
when  the  needs  of  the  work  require  it  the  same  mis¬ 
sionary  may  serve  two  or  more  districts.  New  work 
may  be  opened  up  by  the  mission  as  workers  and 
means  are  provided. 

4.  The  theological  school  shall  be  under  the  con¬ 
trol  of  the  mission  and  shall  be  administered  by  the 
mission  in  cooperation  with  the  conference. 

5.  The  mission  shall  be  under  the  control  of  the 
general  missionary  board  and  all  its  doings  shall  be 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  missionary  board. 

6.  The  mission  shall  elect  one  of  its  members  to 
act  on  the  stationing  committee. 

IX.  Appeals  and  Amendments 

ft  284.  1.  All  appeals  made  from  the  decisions  and 
rulings  of  the  president  of  the  conference  shall  be 
presented  to  the  missionary  board  for  final  action. 

2.  With  the  exception  of  paragraph  283  these  ar- 


JAPAN  MISSION  CONFERENCE 


175 


tides  may  be  amended  by  the  conference,  subject  to 
the  sanction  of  the  mission  and  the  missionary  board. 

3.  Paragraph  283  may  be  amended  by  the  mission 
with  the  sanction  of  the  missionary  board,  provided 
such  amendment  or  amendments  do  not  in  any  way 
conflict  with  the  rights  or  privileges  of  the  confer¬ 
ence,  in  which  case  the  consent  of  the  conference 
must  also  be  obtained. 


CHAPTEE  VI 


HOME  MISSIONS 

I.  Definition  and  Organization 

U  285.  1.  All  work  carried  on  by  the  general  mis¬ 

sionary  board  on  the  North  American  continent 
among  the  foreign  speaking  people  and  others  not 
cared  for  by  our  regular  pastors  shall  be  denominated 
home  mission  work. 

2.  Societies  that  have  been  organized  or  may  be 
organized  among  these  peoples  shall  be  termed 
“Home  Mission  Societies.”  Persons  being  received 
into  such  societies  shall  be  received  on  probation  and 
into  full  membership  on  the  same  conditions  as  are 
our  regular  members. 

3.  The  home  mission  societies  shall  have  the  same 
general  organization  and  power,  both  as  to  districts 
and  circuits  and  local  societies,  as  obtains  in  the  reg¬ 
ular  church  organization.  The  manner  of  election  of 
all  officers  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  gen¬ 
eral  missionary  secretary. 

4.  The  general  missionary  board  shall  have  com¬ 
plete  administrative  authority  over  these  societies 
and  they  shall  in  no  way  be  subject  to  the  appoint¬ 
ment  of  or  control  by  an  annual  conference. 

5.  The  title  to  all  church  property  acquired  with¬ 
in  the  bounds  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested  in 
the  general  missionary  board. 

6.  Where  two  or  more  societies  exist  and,  where 
practicable,  in  the  judgment  of  the  general  mission- 

176 


HOME  MISSIONS 


177 


ary  secretary,  they  may  be  formed  into  “home  mis¬ 
sion  districts.” 

II.  Relation  to  Annual  Conference 

fl  286.  1.  All  home  mission  societies  which  pay 

their  own  operating  expenses,  except  the  salary  of 
the  pastors  and  other  workers,  shall  be  entitled  to 
non-voting  lay  representation  in  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence  within  the  bounds  of  which  such  societies  are 
located. 

2.  These  societies  shall  be  reported  to  such  con¬ 
ference  as  “home  mission  societies,”  and  by  a  foot 
note  on  the  statistical  report  it  shall  be  indicated  that 
conference  claims  are  not  assessed  against  them. 

3.  Preachers  engaged  in  this  work  shall  be  ame¬ 
nable  to  their  annual  conferences  for  their  Christian 
character  and  to  the  general  missionary  board  for 
their  official  conduct. 

4.  The  provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  not  apply 
to  the  Japanese  society  at  Berkeley,  California. 

III.  Duties  of  Pastors 

287.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  preacher  in 
charge  of  a  circuit  or  society  throughout  the  church 
to  preach  on  home  missions  once  a  year  and  take  an 
offering  for  this  purpose. 


CHAPTER  VII 


RELATION  OF  CANADIAN  CONFERENCES 

ft  288.  1.  There  shall  be  a  Canadian  executive 

board  to  be  elected  by  the  Canadian  conferences  on 
the  following  basis,  namely,  each  conference  shall 
elect  by  ballot  one  elder  and  one  layman  to  serve  dur¬ 
ing  the  ensuing  quadrennium.  If  any  member  so 
elected  shall  cease  to  be  a  member  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  conference  or  church,  or  shall  remove  from  the 
bounds  of  the  conference  of  which  or  in  which  he  is 
a  member,  his  place  on  said  board  shall  automatically 
become  vacant.  Any  vacancy  occurring  during  the 
interval  of  an  annual  conference  may  be  filled  by  the 
executive  board  until  the  ensuing  session  of  the  an¬ 
nual  conference,  when  such  vacancy  shall  be  filled  in 
the  regular  way. 

2.  The  life  of  the  Canadian  provisional  executive 
board  shall  be  extended  until  the  permanent  board 
shall  be  elected  by  the  coming  sessions  of  the  several 
annual  conferences  and  the  ministerial  representative 
of  the  West  Ontario  conference  shall  act  as  provi¬ 
sional  secretary  until  the  permanent  board  shall  be 
elected. 

3.  The  Canadian  executive  board  shall  be  per¬ 
mitted  to  retain  and  to  administer  all  assessed  claims 
ordered  by  the  general  conference  except  bishops’ 
salaries  and  the  delegates’  expenses  and  entertain¬ 
ment  fund  connected  with  the  general  conference. 

4.  The  Free  Methodist  church  in-  the  United 
States  shall  assume  payment  for  all  claimants  prow 
receiving  appropriations  from  the  superannuate  fund 
in  the  East  Ontario,  West  Ontario  and  Saskatchewan 

178 


RELATION  OF  CANADIAN  CONFERENCES  179 


conferences,  and  they  shall  also  assume  and  pay  the 
claims  of  the  first  two  preachers  who  may  hereafter 
be  made  claimants  by  either  of  the  conferences  above 
mentioned,  and  the  Canadian  executive  board  shall 
assume  the  responsibility  for  all  claimants  thereafter. 

5.  Any  preacher  who  may  from  this  date  trans¬ 
fer  from  either  the  East  Ontario,  the  West  Ontario 
or  Saskatchewan  conferences  to  any  of  the  confer¬ 
ences  in  the  United  States,  or  vice  versa,  shall  when 
they  become  claimants  receive  their  apportionments 
from  the  claimants’  fund  of  the  respective  treasuries 
according  to  the  years  of  service  in  each  country. 

6.  The  treasurer  of,  the  church  fund  shall  refund 
to  the  treasurer  of  the  Canadian  executive  board,  an 
amount  equal  to  all  that  has  been  raised  by  the  East 
Ontario,  West  Ontario  and  Saskatchewan  conferences 
for  the  permanent  fund. 

7.  The  Canadian  executive  board  shall  receive  an¬ 
nually  according  to  the  business  furnished  from  with¬ 
in  the  bounds  of  the  East  Ontario,  West  Ontario  and 
Saskatchewan  conferences,  a  proportionate  amount 
of  the  profits  accruing  from  the  business  of  the  Free 
Methodist  Publishing  House. 

8.  The  Canadian  executive  board  shall  relinquish 
any  further  claim  on  the  funds  raised  in  the  United 
States  for  conference  claimants,  general  missions, 
church  extension,  permanent  fund  and  church  and 
parsonage  aid. 

9.  The  East  Ontario,  West  Ontario  and  Sas¬ 
katchewan  conferences  shall  be  permitted  to  retain 
all  moneys  raised  within  the  bounds  of  these  respect¬ 
ive  conferences  for  educational  purposes,  and  for  the 
special  stewardship  fund,  to  be  administered  as  each 
conference  shall  direct. 

10.  The  Alberta  conference,  by  vote  of  said  con¬ 
ference,  is  not  subject  to  the  provisions  of  any  of  the 
above,  except  No.  1  and  2. 


CHAPTER  VIII 


CHURCH  EXTENSION 

I.  The  General  Church  Extension  Society 

ft  289.  1.  The  executive  committee  shall  constitute 
The  Church  Extension  Society  of  the  Free  Methodist 
Church  of  North  America.* 

2.  The  object  of  this  society  shall  be  to  aid  needy 
churches  or  societies  by  donations  or  loans  for  the 
erection  of  churches. 

3.  This  society  shall  publish  in  the  official  paper  of 
the  church  an  annual  report  of  its  work,  and  also  sub¬ 
mit  a  full  report  quadrennially  to  the  general  confer¬ 
ence. 

II.  Conference  Church  Extension  and  Aid  Society 

ft  290.  1.  Each  annual  conference  shall  appoint  a 
society  of  five  members  which  shall  constitute  a  con¬ 
ference  church  extension  and  aid  society,  the  officers  of 
which  shall  be  a  president,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

2.  The  conference  church  extension  and  aid  so¬ 
ciety  shall  be  auxiliary  to  the  general  society,  and 
shall,  under  its  direction,  have  charge  of  all  the  work 
of  the  church  extension  and  aid  society  within  its 
bounds. 

3.  The  treasurer  of  the  conference  society  shall, 
at  least  once  in  three  months,  remit  all  funds  in  his 
hands  to  the  treasurer  of  the  general  society. 


*  The  corporate  name  of  this  board. 

180 


CHURCH  EXTENSION 


181 


4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  conference  society 
to  arrange  for  a  collection  to  be  taken  at  each  ap¬ 
pointment  on  every  circuit  for  church  extension,  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  treasurer  of  the  church  extension 
society.  An  amount  equal  to  at  least  twelve  cents  per 
member  is  to  be  raised  for  this  fund. 

5.  The  conference  »ociety  shall  make  a  full  report 
of  its  work  to  the  conference  at  its  annual  session. 

6.  All  applications  for  aid  shall  be  first  submitted 
to  the  conference  society,  and  said  society  shall  cer¬ 
tify  its  action  thereon  to  the  general  society;  and  aid 
shall  be  granted  only  by  the  concurrent  action  of  the 
general  society  and  the  conference  society. 

7.  All  such  applications  for  aid  shall  be  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  blank  forms  furnished  by  the  general 
society,  and  shall  set  forth: 

(1)  The  number  of  members  of  the  Free  Method¬ 
ist  society,  and  the  size  of  the  congregation. 

(2)  The  fact  that  the  board  of  trustees  is  legally 
incorporated. 

(3)  The  size  and  valuation  of  the  site,  the  valid¬ 
ity  of  the  title,  and  whether  deeded  to  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church. 

(4)  A  description  of  the  building  for  which  aid 
is  asked. 

(5)  The  estimated  cost. 

(6)  The  amount  of  available  and  reliable  means 
secured. 

(7)  What  provisions  have  been  made  for  suitable 
accommodations  for  the  Sunday-school? 

(8)  Any  other  information  that  the  general  so¬ 
ciety  may  require. 

8.  In  case  a  church  which  has  received  aid  from 
the  funds  of  the  church  extension  and  aid  society 
shall  be  sold,  it  shall  pay  back  to  this  society  an 
amount  equal  to  that  received  as  aid,  unless  it  be  used 
in  the  same  circuit  and  for  the  same  purpose. 


CHAPTER  IX 


CHARITABLE  INSTITUTIONS 

Board  of  Charities  and  Benevolences 

IT  29 1 .  For  the  encouragement  and  regulation  of 
works  of  charity  and  benevolence  within  the  Free 
Methodist  church,  there  shall  be  a  board  known  as 
The  Board  of  Charities  and  Benevolences  of  the  Free 
Methodist  Church  of  North  America. 

1.  This  board  shall  be  composed  of  the  members 
of  the  general  missionary  board,  and  the  superin¬ 
tendents  of  the  Gerry  Homes  and  of  the  Woodstock 
Homes,  and  of  the  Life  Line  Orphanage. 

2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  of  charities 
and  benevolences  to  inspect  the  charitable  and  benev¬ 
olent  institutions  operating  in  and  soliciting  financial 
support  from  the  Free  Methodist  church  to  determine 
their  financial  standing,  their  plan  of  operation,  and 
the  character  and  amount  of  work  done,  and  to  de¬ 
termine  whether  the  institution  inspected  shall  re¬ 
ceive  the  indorsement  of  the  church  as  an  accredited 
institution. 

3.  The  board  of  charities  and  benevolences  shall 
have  power  to  regulate  the  establishment  of  charita¬ 
ble  and  benevolent  institutions,  not  for  the  purpose  of 
restricting  works  of  charity  and  benevolence  in  the 
church,  but  to  so  limit  the  multiplication  of  charitable 
or  benevolent  institutions  as  to  avoid  their  becoming 
so  numerous  as  to  jeopardize  the  perpetuity  and  suc¬ 
cess  of  those  already  in  the  field. 

182 


CHARITABLE  INSTITUTIONS 


183 


4.  No  charitable  or  benevolent  institution  of  the 
same  character  shall  be  established  in  the  patronizing 
territory  of  any  such  institution  already  established 
without  first  obtaining  consent  of  the  board  of  chari¬ 
ties  and  benevolences. 

5.  All  accredited  institutions  shall  report  annually 
to  the  board  of  charities  and  benevolences  as  to  their 
financial  condition,  the  work  done,  and  the  general 
plan  and  scope  of  their  wcfrk. 

6.  The  accredited  institutions  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church  are:  The  Gerry  Homes,  at  Gerry,  New 
York;  the  Chicago  Industrial  Home  for  Children,  and 
the  Old  People’s  Rest  Home,  both  with  headquarters 
in  Chicago,  and  with  farm  and  buildings  at  Wood- 
stock,  Illinois;  the  Life  Line  Orphanage  at  Kansas 
City,  Kansas;  the  Missions  of  Redeeming  Love  at 
Tulsa,  Oklahoma;  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Denver,  Colo¬ 
rado;  the  Home  of  Redeeming  Love  at  Oklahoma 
City,  Oklahoma;  and  all  others  established  by  the 
Mission  of  Redeeming  Love  Association. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  pastor  to  preach 
a  sermon  at  least  once  a  year  at  each  appointment  on 
his  charge  where  classes  are  formed,  on  the  subject 
of  practical  charity,  and  take  a  collection  for  the 
poor;  the  proceeds  of  this  collection  to  be  used  for 
the  relief  of  the  poor  on  the  circuit  where  the  collec¬ 
tion  is  taken  if  there  be  any  needing  such  help — if 
not,  it  shall  then  be  sent  to  some  accredited  institu¬ 
tion  in  whose  patronizing  territory  the  collection  is 
taken. 

8.  Each  annual  conference  shall  at  its  annual  ses¬ 
sion  appoint  among  its  regular  committees,  a  com¬ 
mittee  on  charities. 


CHAPTER  X 


AGGRESSIVE  EVANGELISM 

I.  The  General  Conference  Board 

292.  1.  The  four  general  conference  evangel¬ 

ists  with  *-he  bishops  of  the  church  shall  compose  a 
general  conference  board  of  aggressive  evangelism 
and  shall  meet  at  least  once  each  year  to  plan  for 
the  evangelistic  work  of  the  church  and  to  do  such 
other  business  as  may  be  necessary  to  successfully 
carry  on  the  work. 

2.  The  conferences  shall  be  divided  into  four  evan¬ 
gelistic  districts,  and  one  evangelist  shall  be  placed 
on  each  district,  their  appointment  to  be  made  by  the 
missionary  board. 

3.  The  general  conference  evangelists  shall  labor 
one  half  their  time  on  weaker  circuits  and  in  open¬ 
ing  new  work.  They  shall  work  in  conjunction  with 
the  annual  conference  evangelistic  boards  on  their  dis¬ 
tricts  in  holding  evangelistic  conventions,  raising 
funds  for  evangelistic  work,  employing  other  evangel¬ 
ists,  and  organizing  bands  for  evangelistic  work.  The 
general  conference  evangelists  are  expected  to  con¬ 
fine  their  evangelistic  labors  within  the  bounds  of  the 
districts  to  which  they  are  appointed. 

4.  This  board  shall  have  authority  to  raise  funds, 
employ  evangelists,  band  workers  and  helpers  and  to 
carry  on  aggressive  evangelism  throughout  the 
church. 

5.  The  evangelistic  districts  are  as  follows: 

(a)  Pacific  Coast  District:  Conferences — Alber¬ 


ts! 


AGGRESSIVE  EVANGELISM 


185 


ta,  Saskatchewan.  Washington,  Oregon,  Southern 
Oregon,  California,  Southern  California,  Columbia 
River.  A.  L.  Whitcomb,  evangelist. 

(b)  Western  District:  Conferences — North  Da¬ 
kota,  South  Dakota,  Colorado,  North  Minnesota.  Min¬ 
nesota  and  Northern  Iowa,  Kansas,  West  Kansas. 
Platte  River,  Oklahoma,  Nebraska,  Texas,  East 
Texas.  E.  Ballenger,  evangelist. 

(c)  Central  District:  Conferences  —  Wisconsin, 
North  Michigan,  East  Michigan,  Michigan,  North  In¬ 
diana,  Illinois,  Central  Illinois,  Iowa,  West  Iowa. 
Missouri,  Arkansas  and  Southern  Missouri,  Louisiana. 
A.  D.  Zahniser,  evangelist. 

(d)  Eastern  District:  Conferences — New  York, 
East  Ontario,  West  Ontario,  Genesee,  Susquehanna, 
Oil  City,  Pittsburgh,  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
Wabash,  Georgia  and  Florida.  B.  W.  Huckabee, 
evangelist. 

6.  Members  of  board:  W.  A.  Sellew,  W.  Pearce, 
W.  H.  Clark,  D.  S.  Warner,  A.  D.  Zahniser,  E.  Bal¬ 
lenger,  B.  W.  Huckabee,  A.  L.  Whitcomb. 

2.  Conference  Evangelistic  Board 

2921/2.  Each  annual  conference  is  required  to  or¬ 
ganize  a  conference  evangelistic  board,  which  shall 
b'e  authorized  to  carry  on  aggressive  evangelistic  work 
within  its  bounds.  This  board  shall  have  power  to 
raise  funds  and  to  employ  evangelists,  band  workers 
and  helpers  to  labor  within  the  conference  bounds, 
who,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  district  elders,  shall 
be  authorized  to  establish  new  societies  where  the  in¬ 
terests  of  the  cause  of  God  require,  providing  that  it 
make  provision  and  be  responsible  for  the  support  of 
all  the  laborers  which  it  employs. 


CHAPTEE  XI 


THE  PUBLISHING  HOUSE 

fl  293.  1.  The  Free  Methodist  Publishing  House 

is  an  institution  established  by  the  Free  Methodist 
General  Conference  of  North  America  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  producing  and  circulating  wholesome  litera¬ 
ture.  It  is  duly  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  with  its  business  plant  and  official 
headquarters  at  1132-1134  Washington  Boulevard, 
Chicago,  Illinois. 

2.  The  publishing  agent  shall  have  authority,  under 
the  supervision  of  the  executive  committee,  to  regu¬ 
late  the  business  of  the  publishing  house  in  such  a 
manner  as  in  his  judgment  the  interests  of  the 
church  require. 

3.  The  publishing  agent  and  editors  shall  make 
annual  reports  to  the  executive  committee,  and  shall 
also  report  to  the  general  conference. 

4.  The  executive  committee  may  elect  by  ballot 
an  assistant  publishing  agent.  The  publishing  agent 
may  nominate. 

5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  assistant  publishing 
agent  to  cooperate  with  the  publishing  agent  in  plan¬ 
ning  and  carrying  forward  the  business  of  the  publish¬ 
ing  house,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  publishing  agent, 
to  assume  the  ordinary  duties  of  the  publishing  agent. 


1S6 


PzVRT  IX 

CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


CHAPTERS 

CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


CHAPTER  I 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 

294.  1.  Genesee  (I860. — The  Genesee  confer¬ 
ence  shall  embrace  that  portion  of  the  state  of  New 
York  lying  west  of  the  Genesee  river,  including 
Rochester,  Mount  Morris,  Groveland,  Belmont,  Scio 
and  Wellsville. 

295.  2.  Illinois  (1S60). — The  Illinois  confer¬ 
ence  shall  embrace  all  that  part  of  the  state  of  Illi¬ 
nois  north  of  a  line  beginning  at  Fort  Madison,  Iowa, 
running  east  to  the  Illinois  river,  thence  down  the 
river  to  a  point  due  west  of  Fowler,  Indiana,  thence 
east  to  the  state  line. 

296.  3.  Susquehanna  (1862). — The  Susquehan¬ 
na  conference  shall  embrace  the  counties  of  Tioga, 
Sullivan  and  Bradford,  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania, 
all  that  part  of  the  state  of  New  York  east  of  the 
Genesee  conference,  and  north  of  a  line  beginning  at 
Great  Bend,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  running  due  north 
to  the  Albany  and  Susquehanna  railroad,  thence  east 
along  said  railroad  to  Oneonta.  and  thence  due  east  to 
the  state  of  Massachusetts;  but  not  including  the  vil¬ 
lages  situated  immediately  upon  that  portion  of  the  said 
Albany  and  Susquehanna  railroad.  This  conference 
shall  also  include  Vermont  and  the  province  of  Que¬ 
bec. 

IT  297.  4.  Michigan  (1865). — The  Michigan  con¬ 

ference  shall  embrace  that  portion  of  the  state  of 
Michigan  lying  south  of  the  base  line. 

298.  5.  Kansas  (1871). — The  Kansas  confer- 


189 


190 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


ence  shall  include  all  that  portion  of  the  state  of 
Kansas  lying  east  of  a  line  running  due  north  from 
the  state  of  Oklahoma,  along  the  west  line  of  McPher¬ 
son  county,  Kansas,  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Cloud 
county,  Kansas;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  said  Cloud  county;  thence  due  north  to  the 
Nebraska  state  line. 

ff  299.  6.  Minnesota  and  Northern  Iowa  (1872). 

The  Minnesota  and  Northern  Iowa  conference  shall 
embrace  that  portion  of  the  state  of  Minnesota  south 
of  a  line  running  due  west  from  Stillwater,  Minne¬ 
sota,  to  Lac-qui-parle  lake  and  thence  up  the  north 
and  east  bank  of  the  Minnesota  river,  to  the  46th 
parallel  of  latitude,  and  thence  west  across  to  the 
east  line  of  Dakota,  except  Nobles,  Rock,  Pipestone, 
Murray,  Lincoln,  Lyon,  Yellow  Medicine  and  Lac-qui- 
parle  counties  in  Minnesota,  and  shall  include  that 
portion  of  Iowa  not  included  in  the  Iowa,  West  Iowa 
and  South  Dakota  conferences. 

II  300.  7.  New  York  (1S73). — The  New  York  con¬ 
ference  shall  embrace  all  parts  of  the  states  of  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania  not  included  in  the  Genesee, 
Pittsburgh,  Oil  City  and  Susquehanna  conferences, 
and  the  states  of  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Delaware, 
Virginia,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecti¬ 
cut. 

If  301.  8.  Iowa  (1875). — The  Iowa  conference 

shall  include  that  portion  of  the  state  of  Iowa  lying 
east  and  south  of  the  following  lines:  Beginning  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  Decatur  county,  thence  north 
to  Hamilton  county,  thence  along  the  east  line  of 
Hamilton  and  Wright  counties  to  the  northeast  cor¬ 
ner  of  Wright  county,  thence  east  to  Clayton  on  the 
Mississippi  river.  It  shall  also  include  the  city  of 
Des  Moines  according  to  its  present  incorporate  lim¬ 
its  (1898). 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


191 


302.  9.  Wisconsin  (1875). — The  Wisconsin  con¬ 
ference  shall  include  the  state  of  Wisconsin. 

303.  10.  North  Michigan  (1S76). — The  North 
Michigan  conference  shall  embrace  that  portion  of 
the  state  of  Michigan  lying  north  of  the  base  line 
from  the  southeast  corner  of  Eaton  county,  and 
southwest  corner  of  Ingham,  thence  north  parallel 
with  the  meridian  line  to  Lake  Huron.  It  shall  also 
include  the  Upper  Peninsula  and  Drummond’s  Island. 

304.  11.  Ohio  (1879). — The  Ohio  conference 
shall  embrace  the  state  of  Ohio,  except  the  towns 
included  in  the  Pittsburgh  and  Oil  City  conferences. 

ft  305.  12.  Central  Illinois  (1S79). — The  Central 

Illinois  conference  shall  include  that  portion  of  the 
state  of  Illinois  not  included  in  the  Illinois  and 
Wabash  conferences.  It  shall  also  include  the  city 
of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

306.  13.  Texas  (1881). — The  Texas  conference 

shall  include  that  part  of  the  state  of  Texas  not  in¬ 
cluded  in  the  East  Texas  conference,  and  that  part 
of  New  Mexico  lying  east  of  the  106th  meridian. 

ft  307.  14.  Missouri  (1SS3). — The  Missouri  con¬ 

ference  shall  embrace  all  that  portion  of  the  state  of 
Missouri  lying  north  of  a  line  beginning  at  Carondolet 
and  running  directly  west  through  the  state,  via  War- 
rensburg,  to  the  west  line  of  the  state,  except  the  city 
of  St.  Louis. 

308.  15.  West  Kansas  (18S3).— The  West  Kan¬ 
sas  conference  shall  include  all  parts  of  the  state  of 
Kansas  not  included  in  the  Kansas  conference. 

ft  309.  16.  South  Dakota  (18S3). — The  South  Da¬ 
kota  conference  shall  embrace  the  state  of  South  Da¬ 
kota  except  that  portion  of  the  state  bounded  by  a 
line  commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Shannon 
county;  thence  north  to  the  White  river;  thence  east 
along  to  its  junction  with  the  Missouri  river;  tbenee 


192 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


along  the  Missouri  river  to  the  south  line  of  the  state 
of  South  Dakota;  thence  west  along  state  line  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  Shannon  county.  It  shall  also 
include  Lyon,  Osceola,  O’Brien  and  Sioux  counties,  in 
the  state  of  Iowa,  and  Nobles,  Bock,  Pipestone,  Mur¬ 
ray,  Lincoln,  Lyon,  Yellow  Medicine  and  Lac-qui- 
parle  counties  in  Minnesota. 

ff3IO.  17.  Pittsburgh  (18S3). — The  Pittsburgh 
conference  shall  include  all  that  part  of  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania  lying  west  of  a  line  running  across  the 
state  due  north  and  south  through  the  east  boundary 
line  of  Potter  county,  not  included  in  the  Oil  City 
conference.  It  shall  also  include  all  the  towns  from 
the  Pennsylvania  state  line  to  Bridgeport  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Ohio  river  in  which  the  Pittsburgh  con¬ 
ference  now  has  organized  societies,  and  the  state  of 
West  Virginia. 

if  311.  18.  California  (1883). — The  California  con¬ 
ference  shall  embrace  all  the  state  of  California 
lying  north  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  Kern  and  Inyo  coun¬ 
ties. 

if  3 12.  19.  East  Michigan  (1884).— The  East 
Michigan  conference  shall  embrace  all  that  part  of 
Michigan  lying  north  of  the  base  line  and  east  of  a 
line  beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Ingham 
and  southeast  corner  of  Eaton  counties,  thence  north 
running  parallel  with  the  meridian  line  to  Lake 
Huron. 

3  1 3.  20.  Louisiana  (18S4). — The  Louisiana  con¬ 
ference  shall  include  the  states  of  Louisiana  and  Mis¬ 
sissippi. 

ff  3 1 4.  21.  Oregon  (1885). — The  Oregon  confer¬ 

ence  shall  include  all  that  part  of  the  state  of  Oregon 
not  embraced  in  the  Columbia  River  and  Southern 
Oregon  conferences. 

ff  3 1 5.  22.  West  Iowa  (1S85). — The  West  Iowa 

conference  shall  embrace  all  of  the  state  of  Iowa 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


193 


lying  west  of  the  Iowa  conference,  and  south  of  a 
line  running  west  from  the  northeast  corner  of 
Wright  county  along  the  county  lines  to  the  Big 
Sioux  river,  also  including  the  county  of  Dakota,  in 
the  state  of  Nebraska. 

TT  3 1 6.  23.  Wabash  (1885).— The  Wabash  con¬ 

ference  shall  include  all  that  part  of  the  state  of  In¬ 
diana  lying  south  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  north¬ 
west  corner  of  Benton  county,  thence  east  through 
Pleasant  Mills,  Adams  county,  to  the  Ohio  state  line, 
and  that  portion  of  the  state  of  Illinois  bounded  by  a 
line  running  west  from  Fowler,  Indiana,  to  a  point 
six  miles  west  of  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois 
Central  railroad,  and  thence  running  southwest, 
parallel  with  said  railroad  to  the  south  line  of  Shelby 
county,  and  thence  along  the  line  of  the  Springfield 
branch  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad  to  Shaw- 
neetown. 

fl3l7.  24.  Colorado  (1SS6). — The  Colorado  con¬ 
ference  shall  embrace  the  state  of  Colorado,  the  state 
of  Utah,  that  part  of  Wyoming  lying  south  of  the 
42nd  meridian,  and  that  part  of  New  Mexico  lying 
west  of  the  106th  meridian. 

fl3l8.  25.  North  Minnesota  (1887). — The  North 
Minnesota  conference  shall  embrace  all  that  part  of 
the  state  of  Minnesota  not  included  in  the  Minnesota 
and  Northern  Iowa  conference. 

U  3 1  9.  26.  Nebraska  (1890). — The  Nebraska  con¬ 

ference  shall  be  bounded  by  a  line  commencing  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Thayer  county,  Nebraska,  thence 
north  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Platte  county,  thence 
west  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Wheeler  county, 
thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Wheeler  coun¬ 
ty,  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Grant 
county,  thence  north  to  the  White  river  in  South  Da¬ 
kota,  thence  east  along  the  White  river  to  its  junction 
with  the  Missouri  river,  thence  east  to  the  southeast, 


194 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


along  the  Missouri  river,  to  its  junction  with  Dakota 
county,  thence  along  the  county  line  to  the  northwest 
corner,  thence  to  the  southwest  corner,  thence  east 
along  southern  boundary  of  said  county  to  the  Mis¬ 
souri  river,  thence  along  the  Missouri  river  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  state  of  Nebraska,  thence  west 
along  the  southern  boundary  of  the  state  of  Nebraska 
to  place  of  beginning. 

U  320.  27.  Southern  California  (1891).  —  The 

Southern  California  conference  shall  embrace  all  of 
the  state  of  California  not  embraced  in  the  California 
conference,  together  with  the  state  of  Arizona. 

fl  321.  28.  Arkansas  and  Southern  Missouri 

(1895). — The  Arkansas  and  Southern  Missouri  con¬ 
ference  shall  embrace  the  state  of  Arkansas  together 
with  that  part  of  Missouri  not  included  in  the  Mis¬ 
souri  conference. 

ff  322.  29.  Columbia  River  (1S96). — The  Colum¬ 

bia  River  conference  shall  include  that  part  of  the 
state  of  Washington  lying  east  of  Grant,  Douglas  and 
Okanogan  counties,  and  that  part  of  Oregon  east  of 
Gillian,  Wheeler  and  Crook  counties,  and  north  of  the 
boundaries  of  the  Southern  Oregon  conference;  it 
shall  also  include  the  state  of  Idaho  and  that  part  of 
the  state  of  Montana  lying  west  of  the  110th  meri¬ 
dian. 

ft  323.  30.  Washington  (1896). — The  Washington 

conference  shall  be  bounded  by  the  Columbia  river 
on  the  south,  and  on  the  east  by  the  Columbia  river 
to  the  intersection  of  the  Columbia  river  with  the 
southern  boundary  of  Grant  county,  thence  along  the 
eastern  boundary  of  Grant,  Douglas  and  Okanogan 
counties  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  state,  thence 
west  to  the  crest  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  thence 
along  the  crest  of  the  Cascade  Mountains  to  and  in¬ 
cluding  Alaska,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Pacific  waters. 

^[324.  31.  Platte  River  (1896).— The  Platte 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


195 


River  conference  shall  include  all  that  part  of  the 
state  of  Nebraska  not  included  in  the  Nebraska  con¬ 
ference  and  that  part  of  Wyoming  lying  north  of 
the  42nd  meridian. 

ft  325.  32.  West  Ontario  (1896). — The  West  On¬ 
tario  conference  shall  include  all  that  part  of  the 
province  of  Ontario  lying  west  of  the  following 
boundary  line:  The  Niagara  river,  the  west  bounds 
of  the  counties  of  Peel  and  Simcoe,  and  the  west 
bounds  of  the  Muskoka,  Parry  Sound  and  Nipissing 
districts. 

ft  326.  33.  East  Ontario  (1896). — The  East  On¬ 
tario  conference  shall  include  all  that  part  of  the 
province  of  Ontario  not  included  in  the  West  Ontario 
conference. 

ft  327.  34.  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  (1896). — The 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  conference  shall  include  the 
states  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

ft  328.  35.  North*  Dakota  (1897). — The  North  Da* 
kota  conference  shall  include  all  of  the  state  of  North 
D'akota  and  that  part  of  Montana  lying  east  of  the 
110th  meridian. 

ft 329.  36.  Oil  City  (1899).— The  Oil  City  confer- 
ference  shall  include  that  part  of  the  state  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania  lying  west  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  north¬ 
east  corner  of  Potter  county  in  said  state  and  running 
due  south  to  the  south  bounds  of  the  state.  This  line, 
north  and  south,  is  also  the  east  boundary  line  of  the 
Pittsburgh  conference.  The  southern  boundary  line 
of  the  Oil  city  conference  shall  be  as  follows:  Be¬ 
ginning  at  the  Ohio  state  line  and  running  due  east 
along  the  south  bounds  of  Lawrence  county  to  the 
west  bounds  of  Clearfield  county,  thence  south  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  Clearfield  county,  thence  east 
along  the  south  bounds  of  Clearfield  and  Center  coun¬ 
ties  to  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  the  Oil  City  and 
Pittsburgh  conferences  above  mentioned;  also  the 


196 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


counties  of  Huntington,  Mifflin,  Juniata,  Snyder, 
Union,  Lycoming  and  Clinton;  also  that  part  of  Blair 
county  north  of  the  line  from  east  to  west  of  Al¬ 
toona,  all  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  It  shall  also 
include  the  towns  of  Conneaut  and  North  Kingsville, 
in  the  state  of  Ohio. 

If  330.  37.  Oklahoma  (1SS9). — The  Oklahoma  con¬ 
ference  shall  include  all  of  Oklahoma  and  the  Indian 
Territory. 

ft  331.  38.  South  Africa  (1907). — The  South  Af¬ 

rica  mission  conference  shall  include  the  whole  of 
Portuguese  East  Africa,  Natal,  Transvaal,  Cape  Col¬ 
ony  and  the  Orange  River  Colony. 

If  332.  39.  Southern  Oregon  (1912). — The  South¬ 

ern  Oregon  conference  shall  include  that  part  of  the 
state  of  Oregon  lying  south  of  a  line  beginning  at 
the  Pacific  Ocean  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Lane 
county  and  extending  due  east  across  the  state. 

If  333.  40.  Georgia  and  Florida  (1913). — The 

Georgia  and  Florida  conference  shall  include  the 
states  of  Georgia  and  Florida. 

If  334.  41.  Saskatchewan  (1914).  —  The  Sas¬ 

katchewan  conference  shall  include  the  provinces  of 
Saskatchewan  and  Manitoba. 

If  335.  42.  Alberta  (1914). — The  Alberta  confer¬ 

ence  shall  include  the  province  of  Alberta  and  all  that 
portion  of  the  province  of  British  Columbia  lying  east 
of  the  crest  of  the  Cascade  Mountains, 

If  336.  43.  East  Texas  (1915). — The  East  Texas 

conference  is  bounded  as  follows;  Beginning  at  the 
Texas  and  Pacific  Railroad,  at  the  boundary  line  of 
Texas  and  Louisiana,  on  the  Shreveport  branch,  fol¬ 
lowing  the  same  to  Big  Sandy,  thence  to  the  St.  Louis 
and  Southwestern  Railroad  to  Waco,  thence  to  San 
Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Railroad  to  Cuero,  thence 
the  Southern  Pacific  to  Port  Lavaca,  thence  along  the 


CONFERENCE  BOUNDARIES 


197 


Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Louisiana,  thence  up  the  Louisiana 
line  to  the  point  of  beginning. 

ft  337.  44.  North  Indiana  (reorganized  1922). — 

North  Indiana  conference  shall  embrace  that  part  of 
Indiana  north  and  east  of  a  line  running  east  along 
the  line  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Warsaw  railroad 
to  the  second  principal  meridian,  thence  due  south  to 
the  south  line  of  Boone  county,  thence  due  east  to  the 
Ohio  state  line.  It  shall  include  the  whole  of  Union 
City. 

ft  338.  45.  Japan  (1923). — The  Japan  conference 

shall  include  all  of  the  work  in  Japan  which  is  car¬ 
ried  on  by  the  Free  Methodist  church. 

ft  339.  Any  question  of  boundaries  that  may  arise 
shall  be  referred  to  the  executive  committee. 


PART  X 
THE  RITUAL 


CHAPTERS 

I.  BAPTISM 

II.  THE  LORD’S  SUPPER 

III.  THE  MARRIAGE  CEREMONY 

IV.  THE  BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD 

V.  ORDINATION  SERVICES 

VI.  FORM  FOR  DEDICATION  OF 
CHURCHES 


CHAPTER  I 


BAPTISM 

11340.  l.  Adult  persons  and  the  parents  of  each 
child  to  be  baptized,  shall  have  the  choice  of  immer¬ 
sion,  sprinkling,  or  pouring. 

2.  We  will  on  no  account  whatever  make  a  charge 
for  administering  baptism. 

I.  Of  Infants 

[The  minister  coming  to  the  font,  which  is  to  be  filled 
with  pure  water,  shall  use  the  following:] 

IT  34  f .  Dearly  beloved,  forasmuch  as  our  Savior, 
Christ,  saith,  “Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  Cod;”  and  as  the  holy  apostle  St.  Peter  de¬ 
clares  that,  “The  promise  is  unto  you  and  to  your 
children,”  therefore  this  child  has  been  brought  hither 
that  he  may  be  consecrated  by  this  solemn  ordinance 
to  the  service  of  his  Creator,  and  that  he  may  receive 
the  sign  and  seal  of  the  covenant  of  grace  into  which 
God  is  mercifully  pleased  to  enter  with  all  his  chil¬ 
dren  ; 

I  beseech  you  to  call  upon  God  the  Father,  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  of  his  bounteous  mercy 
he  will  grant  unto  this  child,  that  he  being  made  par¬ 
taker  of  the  divine  nature  may  grow  up  into  Christ 
our  living  head  in  all  things,  till  he  comes  in  the 
unity  of  the  faith  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of 
God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the 


201 


202 


BAPTISM 


stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ;  and  unto  these 
parents  the  needed  grace  that  they  may  properly  dis¬ 
charge  all  the  duties  they  owe  to  this  child  which 
God  has  given  them 

[Then  shall  the  minister  say:] 

Let  us  pray. 

Almighty  and  everlasting -God,  the  aid  of  all  who 
need,  the  helper  of  all  who  flee  to  thee  for  succor, 
the  covenant-keeping  God,  we  thank  thee  that  thou 
hast  made  it  our  privilege  to  dedicate  our  children 
to  thy  service,  that  they  may  live  to  thy  glory,  and 
gain  everlasting  life.  We  call  upon  thee  for  this 
child  that  he  may  be  delivered  from  the  power  of 
sin  and  Satan,  and  be  sanctified  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  enjoy  the  everlasting  benediction 
of  thy  heavenly  washing.  We  pray  thee  for  these 
parents,  that  they  may  realize  how  great  is  the  re¬ 
sponsibility  resting  upon  them  touching  the  proper 
training  of  those  entrusted  to  their  care;  we  beseech 
thee  to  grant  unto  them  the  aid  of  thy  Holy  Spirit, 
that  both  by  precept  and  example  they  may  so  lead 
this  child  in  the  narrow  way  of  life,  that  both  parent 
and  child  may  come  to  the  everlasting  kingdom,  which 
thou  hast  promised  by  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

[Then  shall  the  people  stand  up  and  the  minister  shall 

say:] 

Hear  the  words  of  the  gospel  written  by  St.  Mark, 
in  the  tenth  chapter,  commencing  with  the  thirteenth 
verse: 

They  brought  young  children  to  Christ,  that  he 
should  touch  them.  And  his  disciples  rebuked  those 
that  brought  them;  but  when  Jesus  saw  it,  he  was 
much  displeased,  and  said  unto  them,  Suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for 
of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God.  Verily  I  say  unto 


BAPTISM  OF  INFANTS 


203 


you,  "Whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of 
God  as  a  little  child,  he  cannot  enter  therein.  And 
he  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his  hands  upon 
them  and  blessed  them. 

[Then  shall  the  minister  demand  of  the  parents  sever¬ 
ally,  as  follows:] 

Cues.  Dost  thou,  in  the  presence  of  God,  and  of 
these  witnesses,  solemnly  dedicate  this  child  to  the 
Lord,  that  he  may  live  in  his  service  all  his  days? 

Ans.  I  do. 

Ques.  Dost  thou,  so  far  as  thou  canst,  in  his  be¬ 
half,  renounce  the  devil  and  all  his  works,  the  vain 
pomp  and  glory  of  the  world,  with  all  covetous  de¬ 
sires  of  the  same,  and  the  sinful  desires  of  the  flesh, 
so  that,  in  the  training  of  this  child,  thou  wilt  not 
follow  nor  be  led  by  them;  and  so  that,  as  far  as  in 
thee  lies,  thou  wilt  prevent  him  from  following  the 
same? 

Ans.  I  do. 

Ques.  Dost  thou  believe  in  the  Holy  Scriptures 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments? 

Ans.  I  do. 

Ques.  Wilt  thou,  out  of  the  same,  diligently 
teach  this  child  the  statutes  and  commandments  of 
the  Most  High;  and  wilt  thou  train  him  up  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord? 

Ans.  I  will. 

[Then  the  minister  shall  take  the  child  into  his  hands 
and  say  to  the  friends  of  the  child:] 

Name  this  child. 

[And  then,  naming  it  after  them,  he  shall  sprinkle  or 

pour  water  upon  it,  or,  if  desired,  immerse  it  in 

water,  saying:] 

N.,  I  baptize  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 


204 


BAPTISM 


[Then  he  shall  say,  all  kneeling:] 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  thy 
name;  thy  kingdom  come;  thy  will  be  done,  in  earth 
as  it  is  in  heaven;  give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread, 
and  forgive  us  our  debts  as  we  forgive  our  debtors; 
and  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from 
evil;  for  thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the 
glory,  forever.  Amen. 

[Then  shall  the  minister  conclude  with  extemporary 

prayer.] 

II.  Of  Those  of  Riper  Years 

IT  342.  Dearly  beloved,  since  all  men  are  by  nature 
sinners,  and  have  nothing  in  themselves  by  which 
they  can  be  delivered  from  the  guilt  and  pollution  of 
sin,  and  attain  to  that  holiness  without  which  no  man 
can  see  the  Lord,  we  invite  you  to  join  with  us  in 
fervent  prayer  for  these  persons,  that  they  may  have 
grace  always  to  keep  their  covenant  with  God,  and 
that  they  may  continually  enjoy  the  washing  of  re¬ 
generation,  and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

[Then  shall  the  minister  say:] 

Almighty  and  immortal  God,  the  aid  of  all  that 
need,  the  helper  of  all  that  flee  to  thee  for  succor, 
the  life  of  them  that  believe,  and  the  resurrection  of 
the  dead;  we  call  upon  thee  for  these  persons;  that 
they,  coming  to  thy  holy  baptism,  may  by  this  rite 
truthfully  testify  to  that  inner  washing  through  faith 
in  the  precious  blood  of  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and 
that  they  may  enjoy  the  everlasting  benediction  of 
this  heavenly  washing  and  come  to  the  eternal  king¬ 
dom  which  thou  hast  promised  by  Christ  our  Lord. 

[Then  shall  the  people  stand  up,  and  the  minister  shall 

say :] 

Hear  the  words  of  the  Savior  as  recorded  in  the 
gospel  written  by  St.  Matthew,  in  the  twenty-eighth 


BAPTISM  OF  ADULTS 


205 


chapter,  “Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  nations,  bap¬ 
tizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father  and  01  che  Son 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you,  and,  lo!  I 
am  with  you  alway  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.” 
Amen. 

[Then  the  minister  shall  speak  to  the  person  to  be  bap¬ 
tized  in  this  wise:] 

Well  beloved,  who  here  present  yourselves  for  holy 
baptism,  you  have  heard  how  the  congregation  hath 
prayed  that  God  would  continue  his  loving  favor 
toward  you  and  bring  you  unto  his  eternal  kingdom. 
And  God,  the  covenant-keeping  God,  hath  promised 
by  his  only  begotten  Son  whom  he  yielded  up  for 
our  redemption  that  he  would  grant  these  gracious 
favors.  Wherefore  you  must  promise  upon  your  part 
in  the  presence  of  this  congregation  that  you,  re¬ 
nouncing  the  devil  and  all  his  works,  will  implicitly 
believe  God’s  holy  word  and  obediently  keep  his 
commandments. 

[Then  shall  the  minister  demand  of  each  of  the  persons 
to  be  baptized  severally:] 

Ques.  Dost  thou  renounce  the  devil  and  all  his 
works,  the  vain  pomp  and  glory  of  the  world,  with 
all  covetous  desires  of  the  same,  and  the  carnal  de¬ 
sires  of  the  flesh,  so  that  thou  wilt  not  follow  nor 
be  led  by  them? 

Ans.  I  renounce  them  all. 

Ques.  Dost  thou  believe  in  God,  the  Father  Al¬ 
mighty,  Maker  of  heaven  and  earth?  and  in  Jesus 
Christ,  his  only  begotten  Son,  our  Lord?  and  that 
he  was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the 
Virgin  Mary?  that  he  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate, 
was  crucified,  dead  and  buried?  that  he  arose  again 
on  the  third  day?  that  he  ascended  into  heaven,  and 


206 


BAPTISM 


sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  the  Father  Al¬ 
mighty,  and  from  thence  shall  come  again,  at  the  end 
of  the  world,  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead? 

And  dost  thou  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  com¬ 
munion  of  saints;  the  remission  of  sins;  the  resurrec¬ 
tion  of  the  body,  and  everlasting  life  after  death? 

Ans.  All  this  I  steadfastly  believe. 

Ques.  Wilt  thou  be  baptized  in  this  faith? 

Ans.  This  is  my  desire. 

Ques.  Wilt  thou  obediently  keep  God’s  will  and 
commandments,  and  walk  in  the  same  all  the  days  of 
thy  life? 

Ans.  I  will  endeavor  so  to  do,  God  being  my 
helper. 


[Then  shall  the  minister  say:] 

Almighty  and  everlasting  God,  author  of  life  eter¬ 
nal,  grant  that  the  regenerating  grace  which  thou 
hast  so  mercifully  vouchsafed  to  these  persons  may 
not  have  been  bestowed  in  vain.  Grant  also  that  they 
may  enjoy  that  greater  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
the  end  that  all  carnal  affections  may  be  destroyed 
in  them  and  that  every  Christian  grace  and  virtue 
may  freely  live  and  grow  in  them.  Amen.  Almighty 
God,  Father  of  all  mankind,  Eternal  Son,  Deliverer 
of  thine  Israel,  Holy  Spirit,  Guide  of  thy  people, 
grant  that  these  persons  may  have  constant  victory 
over  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil,  and  that  they 
may  enjoy  the  fulness  of  thy  grace  and  ever  remain 
in  the  number  of  thy  faithful  and  elect  children.  We 
ask  it  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

[Then  shall  the  minister  take  by  the  right  hand  each 
person  to  be  baptized,  and  placing  him  conveniently 
by  the  font,  according  to  his  discretion,  shall  ask  the 
name  and  then  sprinkle  or  pour  water  upon  him  (or 
if  he  shall  desire  it,  shall  immerse  him  in  water), 
saying:] 


BAPTISM  OF  ADULTS 


207 


N.,  I  baptize  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

[Then  s’  all  be  said  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  all  kneeling,  con¬ 
cluding  with  extemporary  prayer  and  the  benediction.] 


CHAPTER  II 


THE  LORD’S  SUPPER 

(The  use  of  individual  communion  cups  is  recom¬ 
mended,  wherever  practicable.) 

I.  General  Directions 

If  343.  1.  Let  all  our  ministers  exercise  due  care 

to  see  that  no  person  known  to  be  living  an  immoral 
life,  or  to  be  guilty  of  any  disreputable  practise  be  ad¬ 
mitted  to  the  Lord's  table  among  us  until  he  shall 
have  given  satisfactory  evidence  of  repentance  and 
amendment  of  life. 

2.  All  persons  properly  included  in  the  general 
invitation  may  be  allowed  to  partake  of  the  Lord’s 
Supper  among  us. 

II.  Order  for  the  Administration  of  the  Lord’s  Supper 

[The  elder  may  say:] 

If  344.  Ye  that  do  truly  and  earnestly  repent  of 
your  sins,  and  are  in  love  and  charity  with  your  neigh¬ 
bors,  and  intend  to  lead  a  new  life,  following  the  com¬ 
mandments  of  God,  and  walking  henceforth  in  his 
holy  ways,  draw  near  with  faith,  and  take  this  holy 
sacrament  to  your  comfort;  and,  meekly  kneeling, 
make  your  humble  confession  to  Almighty  God. 

[Then  may  this  general  confession  be  made:] 

Almighty  God,  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
Maker  of  all  things,  Judge  of  all  men,  we  ac-knowl- 


20S 


THE  LORD’S  SUPPER 


•209 


edge  and  bewail  the  manifold  sins  and  wickedness  of 
our  past  lives,  which  we  from  time  to  time  most 
grievously  have  committed,  by  thought,  word,  and 
deed,  against  thy  Divine  Majesty,  provoking  most 
justly  thy  wrath  and  indignation  against  us.  We  do 
earnestly  repent,  and  are  heartily  sorry  for  these  our 
past  misdoings;  the  remembrance  of  them  is  grievous 
unto  us.  Have  mercy  upon  us,  have  mercy  upon  u», 
most  merciful  Father,  for  thy  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ's  sake,  forgive  us  all  that  is  past;  and  grant 
that  we  may  ever  hereafter  serve  and  please  thee  in 
newness  of  life,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  thy  name, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

[Or  in  place  of  it  the  elder  may  say  the  Lord’s  Prayer, 
the  people  repeating  it  with  him.] 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  thy 
name;  thy  kingdom  come;  thy  will  be  done  in  earth  as 
it  is  in  heaven;  give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread;  and 
forgive  us  our  debts  as  we  forgive  our  debtors;  and 
lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil; 
for  thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the 
glory,  forever.  Amen. 

[Then  may  the  elder  say:] 

O  Almighty  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  who  of  thy 
great  mercy  hast  promised  forgiveness  of  sins  to  all 
them  that  with  hearty  repentance  and  true  faith  turn 
unto  thee;  have  mercy  upon  us;  pardon  and  deliver 
us  from  our  sins,  confirm  and  strengthen  us  in  all 
goodness,  and  bring  us  to  everlasting  life,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

THE  COLLECT 

Almighty  God,  unto  whom  all  hearts  are  opened, 
all  desires  known,  and  from  whom  no  secrets  are 
hid;  cleanse  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts,  by  the  in¬ 
spiration  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  we  may  perfectly 


210 


THE  LORD'S  SUPPER 


love  thee,  and  worthily  magnify  thy  holy  name, 
through  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

[Then  may  the  elder  say:] 

It  is  very  meet,  right,  and  our  bounden  duty  that 
we  should  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  give  thanks 
unto  thee,  O  Lord,  holy  Father,  Almighty  and  ever¬ 
lasting  God. 

Therefore,  with  angels  and  archangels,  and  with 
all  the  company  of  heaven,  we  laud  and  magnify  thy 
glorious  name,  evermore  praising  thee,  and  saying, 
Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God  of  hosts,  heaven  and  earth 
are  full  of  thy  glory.  Glory  be  to  thee,  O  Lord  most 
high.  Amen. 

[Then  may  the  elder  say:] 

We  do  not  presume  to  come  to  this  thy  table,  O 
merciful  Lord,  trusting  in  our  own  righteousness,  but 
in  thy  manifold  and  great  mercies.  We  are  not 
worthy  so  much  as  to  gather  up  the  crumbs  under 
thy  table.  But  thou  art  the  same  Lord,  whose  prop¬ 
erty  is  always  to  have  mercy;  grant  us  therefore,  gra¬ 
cious  Lord,  so  to  eat  the  flesh  of  thy  dear  Son,  Jesus 
Christ,  and  to  drink  his  blood,  that  we  may  live  and 
grow  thereby,  and  that  being  washed  through  his 
most  precious  blood,  we  may  evermore  dwell  in  him, 
and  he  in  us.  Amen. 

[Then  may  the  elder  say  the  prayer  of  consecration,  as 

follows :] 

Almighty  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  who  of  thy 
tender  mercy  didst  give  thine  only  Son,  Jesus  Christ, 
to  suffer  death  upon  the  cross  for  our  redemption, 
who  made  there  by  his  oblation  of  himself  once  of¬ 
fered,  a  full,  perfect,  and  sufficient  sacrifice,  oblation 
and  satisfaction,  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world;  and 
did  institute,  and  in  his  holy  gospel  command  us  to 
continue  a  perpetual  memory  of  that  his  precious 
death  until  his  coming  again;  hear  us,  O  merciful 


THE  LORD’S  SUPPER 


211 


Father,  we  most  humbly  beseech  thee,  and  grant 
that  we,  receiving  these,  thy  creatures  of  bread  and 
wine,  according  to  thy  Son,  our  Savior  Jesus  Christ's 
holy  institution,  in  remembrance  of  his  death  and 
passion  may  be  partakers  of  his  most  blessed  body  and 
blood;  who,  in  the  same  night  that  he  was  betrayed, 
took  bread; 

[Here  the  elder  may  take  the  plate  of  bread  into  his 

hand.] 

and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  broke  it  and  gave 
it  to  his  disciples,  saying,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body 
which  is  given  for  you;  do  this  in  remembrance  of 
me.  Likewise  after  supper  he  took  the  cup; 

[Here  he  may  take  the  cup  in  his  hand.] 
and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  gave  it  to  them, 
saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  this;  for  this 

[And  here  he  may  lay  his  hand  upon  all  the  vessels 
which  contain  the  wine.] 

is  my  blood  of  the  New  Testament,  which  is  shed  for 
you  and  for  many,  for  the  remission  of  sins;  do  this 
as  oft  as  ye  shall  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Amen. 

[Then  may  the  minister  first  receive  tve  communion  in 
both  kinds  himself,  and  then  proceed  to  deliver  the 
same  to  the  other  ministers  in  like  manner  (if  any 
there  he  present),  and  after  that  to  the  people  also, 
in  order,  into  their  hands.  And  when  he  delivers  the 
bread  he  shall  say :] 

The  body  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  was 
given  for  thee,  preserve  thy  soul  and  body  unto  ever¬ 
lasting  life.  Take  and  eat  this  in  remembrance  that 
Christ  died  for  thee,  and  feed  on  him  in  thy  heart, 
by  faith,  with  thanksgiving. 

[And  the  minister  that  delivers  the  cup  may  say :] 

The  blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  was  shed 
for  thee,  preserve  thy  soul  and  body  unto  everlasting 


212 


THE  LORD'S  SUPPER 


life.  Drink  this  in  remembrance  that  Christ’s  blood 
was  shed  for  thee,  and  be  thankful. 

[If  the  consecrated  bread  or  wine  shall  be  all  spent 
before  all  have  communicated,  the  elder  may  conse¬ 
crate  more,  by  repeating  the  prayer  of  consecration. 
When  all  have  communed  the  minister  shall  return 
to  the  Lord’s  table  and  place  upon  it  what  remaineth 
of  the  consecrated  elements,  covering  the  same  with 
a  fair  linen  cloth. 

Here  the  elder  may  offer  extemporary  prayer,  concluding 
with  this  blessing:] 

May  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under¬ 
standing,  keep  your  hearts  and  minds  in  the  knowl¬ 
edge  and  love  of  God,  and  of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ, 
our  Lord;  and  the  blessings  of  God  Almighty,  the 
Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  among  you 
and  remain  with  you  always.  Amen. 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  MARRIAGE  CEREMONY 

H  345.  [At  the  day  and  time  appointed  for  the  sol¬ 
emnizing-  of  matrimony,  the  persons  to  be  married  stand¬ 
ing  together,  the  man  on  the  right  hand  of  the  woman, 
the  minister  shall  say:] 

Dearly  beloved,  we  are  gathered  together  here  in 
the  sight  of  God,  and  in  the  presence  of  these  wit¬ 
nesses,  to  join  together  this  man  and  this  woman  in 
holy  matrimony;  which  is  an  honorable  estate,  in¬ 
stituted  of  God  in  the  time  of  man’s  innocency,  sig¬ 
nifying  unto  us  the  mystical  union  that  is  between 
Christ  and  his  Church;  which  holy  estate  Christ 
adorned  and  beautified  with  his  presence,  and  first 
miracle  that  he  wrought  in  Cana  of  Galilee,  and  is 
commended  of  St.  Paul  to  be  honorable  among  all 
men;  and  therefore  is  not  by  any  to  be  taken  in  hand 
unadvisedly,  but  reverently,  discreetly,  and  in  the  fear 
of  God. 

Into  which  holy  estate  these  two  persons  present 
come  now  to  be  joined.  Therefore,  if  any  can  show 
any  just  cause  why  they  may  not  lawfully  be  joined 
together,  let  him  now  speak,  or  else  hereafter  for¬ 
ever  hold  his  peace. 

[And  also  speaking  unto  the  persons  that  are  to  be 
married,  he  may  say:] 

I  require  and  charge  you  both  (as  you  will  answer 
at  the  dreadful  day  of  judgment,  when  the  secrets  of 
all  hearts  shall  be  disclosed)  that  if  either  of  you 
know  any  impediment  why  you  may  not  be  lawfully 
joined  together  in  matrimony,  you  do  now  confess  it, 


213 


214 


THE  MARRIAGE  CEREMONY 


for  be  ye  well  assured,  that  so  many  as  are  coupled 
together  otherwise  than  God’s  word  doth  allow,  are 
not  joined  together  by  God,  neither  is  their  matri¬ 
mony  lawful. 

[If  no  impediment  be  alleged,  then  shall  the  minister 

say  unto  the  man:] 

M. ,  wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  be  thy  wedded 
wife,  to  live  together  after  God’s  ordinance,  in  the 
holy  estate  of  matrimony?  Wilt  thou  love  her,  com¬ 
fort  her,  honor,  and  keep  her,  in  sickness  and  in 
health;  and,  forsaking  all  others,  keep  thee  only  unto 
her,  so  long  as  ye  both  shall  live? 

[Then  the  man  shall  answer:] 

I  will. 

[Then  the  minister  shall  say  unto  the  woman:] 

N. ,  wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy  wedded  hus¬ 
band,  to  live  together  after  God’s  ordinance,  in  the 
holy  estate  of  matrimony?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor 
and  keep  him,  in  sickness  and  in  health;  and,  forsaking 
all  others,  keep  thee  only  unto  him,  so  long  as  ye  both 
shall  live? 

[Then  the  woman  shall  answer:] 

I  will. 

[Then  shall  the  minister  join  their  right  hand's  together, 

and  say:] 

Those  whom  God  hath  joined  together  let  not  man 
put  asunder. 

Forasmuch  as  M.  and  N.  have  consented  together 
in  holy  wedlock,  and  have  witnessed  the  same  before 
God,  and  this  company,  and  thereto  have  pledged 
their  faith  each  to  the  other,  and  have  declared  the 
same  by  joining  hands;  I  pronounce  that  they  are  hus¬ 
band  and  wife  together,  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

[And  the  minister  shall  add  this  blessing:] 

God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  God  the  Holy  Ghost, 
bless,  preserve,  and  keep  you;  the  Lord  mercifully 


THE  MARRIAGE  CEREMONY 


215 


with  his  favor  look  upon  you,  and  so  fill  you  with  all 
spiritual  benediction  and  grace,  that  ye  may  so  live 
together  in  this  life,  that  in  the  world  to  come  ye  may 
have  life  everlasting.  Amen. 

[Then  let  prayer  be  offered.] 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD 

fl  346.  We  will  on  no  account  make  a  charge  for 
burying  the  dead. 

[The  minister,  meeting  the  corpse,  and  going  before 
it  shall  say:] 

I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life;  he  that  be- 
lieveth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live; 
and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  me,  shall  never 
die  (John  11:25,  26). 

I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that  he  shall 
stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth;  and  though 
after  my  skin  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my 
flesh  shall  I  see  God;  whom  I  shall  see  for  myself, 
and  mine  eyes  shall  behold,  and  not  another  (Job 
19:  25-27). 

We  brought  nothing  into  this  wmrld,  and  it  is  cer¬ 
tain  we  can  carry  nothing  out.  The  Lord  gave,  and 
the  Lord  hath  taken  away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord  (1  Tim.  6:  7;  Job  1:21). 

[At  the  grave,  while  the  corpse  is  being  laid  in  the 
earth,  the  minister  shall  say:] 

Man  that  is  born  of  woman  hath  but  a  short  time 
to  live,  and  is  full  of  misery.  lie  cometh  up  and  is 
cut  down  like  a  flower:  he  fleeth  as  it  were  a  shadow 
and  never  continueth  in  one  stay. 

In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death;  of  whom  may 
we  seek  for  succor  but  of  thee,  O  Lord,  who  for  our 
sins  art  justly  displeased? 

Yet,  O  Lord,  God  most  holy,  O  Lord  most  mighty, 


216 


BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD 


217 


O  holy  and  most  merciful  Savior,  deliver  us  not  into 
the  Litter  pains  of  eternal  death. 

Thou  knowest,  Lord,  the  secrets  of  our  hearts; 
shut  not  thy  merciful  ears  to  our  prayers,  but  spare 
us,  Lord  most  holy,  O  God  most  mighty,  O  holy  and 
most  merciful  Savior,  thou  most  worthy  Judge  eternal, 
suffer  us  not  at  our  last  hour  for  any  pains  of  death 
to  fall  from  thee. 

[Then  while  the  earth  shall  be  cast  upon  the  body,  the 
minister  shall  say:] 

Forasmuch  as  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God,  in  his 
wise  providence,  to  take  out  of  this  world  the  soul 
of  our  deceased  brother,  we  therefore  commit  his 
body  to  the  ground;  earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes, 
dust  to  dust;  looking  for  the  general  resurrection  in 
the  last  day,  and  the  life  of  the  world  to  come, 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  at  whose  second  com¬ 
ing  in  glorious  majesty  to  judge  the  world,  the  earth 
and  the  sea  shall  give  up  their  dead;  and  the  corrupt¬ 
ible  bodies  of  those  who  sleep  in  him  shall  be  changed, 
and  made  like  unto  his  own  glorious  body;  according 
to  the  mighty  working  whereby  he  is  able  to  subdue 
all  things  unto  himself. 

I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write: 
from  henceforth  blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord;  even  so,  saith  the  Spirit,  for  they  rest  from 
their  labors. 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  thy 
name;  thy  kingdom  come;  thy  will  be  done  in  earth 
as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread, 
and  forgive  us  our  debts  as  we  forgive  our  debtors; 
and  lead  us  not  into  temptation;  but  deliver  us  from 
evil.  Amen. 

THE  COLLECT 

O  merciful  God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life;  in  whom 


218 


BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD 


whosoever  believetk  shall  live,  though  he  die;  'md 
whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  him  shall  not  die 
eternally;  we  meekly  beseech  thee,  O  Father,  to  raise 
us  from  the  death  of  sin  unto  the  life  of  righteous¬ 
ness,  that  when  we  shall  depart  this  life  we  may  rest 
in  him;  and  at  the  general  resurrection,  on  the  last  day, 
may  be  found  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  and  receive  that 
blessing  which  thy  well-beloved  Son  shall  then  pro¬ 
nounce  to  all  that  love  and  fear  thee,  saying,  Come  ye 
blessed  of  my  Father,  receive  the  kingdom  prepared 
for  you  from  the  beginning  of  the  world.  Grant 
this,  we  beseech  thee,  O  merciful  Father,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Redeemer.  Amen. 

The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of 
God,  and  the  fellowship  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  us 
all  evermore.  Amen. 


CHAPTEK  V 


ORDINATION  SERVICES 
I.  Ordination  of  Elders 

H  347.  ["When  the  time  appointed  for  the  ordination 
shall  have  come  one  of  the  elders  shall  present  unto  the 
president  those  who  are  to  be  ordained,  saying: 

I  present  unto  you  these  persons  (reading  their  names 
aloud)  to  be  ordained  elders.  Then  the  president  shall 
say  unto  the  people:] 

Brethren,  these  are  they  whom  we  purpose,  God 
willing,  this  day  to  ordain  elders.  For  after  due 
examination,  we  find  not  to  the  contrary,  but  that 
they  are  lawfully  called  to  this  function  and  ministry, 
and  that  they  are  persons  meet  for  the  same.  But  if 
any  of  you  know  any  impediment  or  crime  in  any  of 
them,  for  which  he  ought  not  to  be  received  into  this 
holy  ministry,  come  forth  in  the  name  of  God,  and 
show  what  the  crime  or  impediment  is. 

[If  no  crime  nor  impediment  be  alleged,  then  shall  be 

said  the  collect,  epistle,  and  gospel,  as  follows:] 

THE  COLLECT 

Almighty  God,  Giver  of  all  good  things,  who  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  hast  appointed  divers  orders  of  ministers 
in  thy  church,  mercifully  behold  these,  thy  servants, 
now  called  to  the  office  of  elder,  and  replenish  them 
so  with  the  truth  of  thy  doctrine  and  adorn  them 
with  innocency  of  life,  that  both  by  word  and  good 
example  they  may  faithfully  serve  thee  in  this  office, 
to  the  glory  of  thy  name  and  the  edification  of  thy 


219 


2*20 


ORDINATION  SERVICES 


church,  through  the  mercies  of  our  Savior,  Jesus 
Christ,  who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  thee  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  world  without  end.  Amen. 

THE  EPISTLE - EPHESIANS  4  :  7-13 

Unto  every  one  of  us  is  given  grace  according  to 
the  measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ.  Wherefore  he  saith, 
When  he  ascended  up  on  high,  he  led  captivity  cap¬ 
tive  and  gave  gifts  unto  men.  (Now  that  he  ascended, 
what  is  it  but  that  he  also  descended  first  into  the 
lower  parts  of  the  earth?  He  that  descended  is  the 
same  also  that  ascended  up  far  above  all  heavens,  that 
he  might  fill  all  things.)  And  he  gave  some,  apostles; 
and  some,  prophets;  and  some,  evangelists;  and  some, 
pastors  and  teachers;  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints, 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ;  till  we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  the 
faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto 
a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the 
fulness  of  Christ. 

THE  GOSPEL - ST.  JOHN  10:7-16 

Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  again,  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  you,  I  am  the  door  of  the  sheep.  All  that 
ever  came  before  me  are  thieves  and  robbers;  but  the 
sheep  did  not  hear  them.  I  am  the  door;  by  me,  if 
any  man  enter  in,  he  shall  be  saved,  and  shall  go 
in  and  out  and  find  pasture.  The  thief  cometh  not 
but  for  to  steal  and  to  kill,  and  to  destroy;  I  am- 
come  that  they  might  have  life,  and  that  they  might 
have  it  more  abundantly.  I  am  the  good  shepherd* 
the  good  shepherd  giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep.  But 
he  that  is  a  hireling,  and  not  the  shepherd,  whose 
own  the  sheep  are  not,  seeth  the  wolf  coming  and 
leaveth  the  sheep,  and  fleeth;  and  the  wolf  catcheth 
them,  and  scattereth  the  sheep.  The  hireling  fleeth, 


ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS 


221 


because  he  is  a  hireling,  and  careth  not  for  the  sheep. 
I  am  the  good  shepherd,  and  know  my  sheep,  and  am 
known  of  mine.  As  the  Father  knoweth  me,  even  so 
know  I  the  Father;  and  I  lay  down  my  life  for  the 
sheep.  And  other  sheep  I  have,  which  are  not  of  this 
fold;  them  also  I  must  bring,  and  they  shall  hear  my 
voice,  and  there  shall  be  one  fold  and  one  shepher 

[And  that  done,  the  president  shall  say  unto  them  as 

follows :] 

You  have  heard,  brethren,  in  the  lessons  taken 
out  of  the  gospel  and  the  writings  of  the  apostles, 
of  what  dignity,  and  of  how  great  importance  this 
office  is  whereunto  ye  are  called. 

We  have  good  hope  that  you  have  all  weighed  and 
pondered  these  things  with  yourselves  long  before 
this  time;  and  that  you  have  clearly  determined,  by 
God’s  grace,  to  give  yourselves  wholly  to  this  office, 
whereunto  it  hath  pleased  God  to  call  you;  so  that 
as  much  as  lieth  in  you,  you  will  apply  yourselves 
wholly  to  this  one  thing,  and  draw  all  your  cares  and 
studies  this  way,  and  that  you  will  continually  pray  to 
God  the  Father  by  the  mediation  of  our  only  Savior, 
Jesus  Christ,  for  the  heavenly  assistance  of  the  Holy 
Ghost;  that  by  daily  reading  and  weighing  of  the 
Scriptures,  ye  may  wax  riper  and  stronger  in  your 
ministry;  and  that  ye  may  so  endeavor  yourselves 
from  time  to  time  to  sanctify  the  lives  of  you  and 
yours,  and  to  fashion  them  after  the  rule  and  doc¬ 
trine  of  Christ,  that  ye  may  be  wholesome  and  godly 
examples  and  patterns  for  the  people  to  follow. 

And  now  that  this  present  congregation  of  Christ, 
here  assembled,  may  also  understand  your  minds  and 
wills  in  these  things,  and  that  this  your  promise,  may 
the  more  move  you  to  do  your  duties,  ye  shall  answer 
plainly  to  these  things  which  we,  in  the  name  of  God 


222 


ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS 


and  his  church,  shall  demand  of  you  touching  the 
same. 

Do  you  think  in  your  heart  that  you  are  truly 
called,  according  to  the  will  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
to  the  gospel  ministry,  and  to  perform  the  duties  of 
an  elder? 

Ans.  I  think  so. 

President:  Are  you  persuaded  that  the  Holy 

Scriptures  contain  sufficiently  all  doctrines  required 
of  necessitj”  for  eternal  salvation  through  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ?  And  are  you  determined  out  of  the 
said  Scriptures  to  instruct  the  people  committed  to 
your  charge,  and  to  teach  nothing  as  required  of  ne¬ 
cessity  to  salvation  but  that  which  you  shall  be  per¬ 
suaded  may  be  concluded  and  proved  by  the  Scrip¬ 
tures? 

A.  I  am  so  persuaded,  and  have  so  determined  by 
God's  grace. 

P.  Will  you  then  give  your  faithful  diligence  al¬ 
ways  so  to  minister  the  doctrines  and  sacraments  and 
discipline  of  Christ,  as  the  Lord  hath  commanded? 

A.  I  will  do  so  by  the  help  of  the  Lord. 

P.  Will  you  be  ready  with  all  faithful  diligence 
to  banish  and  drive  away  all  erroneous  and  strange 
doctrines  contrary  to  God's  word;  and  to  use  both 
public  and  private  monitions  and  exhortations,  as 
well  to  the  sick  as  to  the  whole,  within  your  charge, 
as  need  shall  require  and  occasion  shall  be  given? 

A.  I  will,  the  Lord  being  my  helper. 

P.  Will  you  be  diligent  in  prayers,  and  in  reading 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  such  studies  as  help  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  same,  laying  aside  the  study  of  the 
world  and  the  flesh? 

A.  I  will  endeavor  so  to  do,  the  Lord  being  my 
helper. 

P.  Will  you  be  diligent  to  frame  and  fashion  your- 


ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS 


223 


self  and  your  family  according  to  the  doctrine  of 
Christ;  and  to  make  both  yourself  and  them,  as  much 
as  in  you  lieth,  wholesome  examples  and  patterns  to 
the  flock  of  Christ? 

A.  I  shall  apply  myself  thereto,  the  Lord  being 
my  helper. 

P.  Will  you  maintain  and  set  forward  as  much 
as  lieth  in  you,  quietness,  peace,  and  love,  among  all 
Christian  people,  and  especially  among  those  who  are 
or  may  be  committed  to  your  charge? 

A.  I  will  do  so,  the  Lord  being  my  helper. 

[That  done,  the  president  shall  pray  in  this  wise,  and 

say:] 

Let  us  pray. 

Almighty  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  who  of  thine 
infinite  love  and  goodness  toward  us  hast  given  to 
us  thine  only  and  most  dearly  beloved  Son,  Jesus 
Christ,  to  be  our  Redeemer,  and  the  author  of  ever¬ 
lasting  life;  for  these  so  great  benefits  of  thy  eternal 
goodness  we  render  unto  thee  most  hearty  thanks; 
we  praise  and  worship  thee;  and  we  humbly  beseech 
thee  that  we  may  continue  to  show  ourselves  thank¬ 
ful  unto  thee,  for  these,  and  all  other,  thy  benefits, 
and  that  we  may  daily  increase  and  go  forward  in  the 
knowledge  and  faith  of  thee  and  thy  Son,  by  the  Holy 
Spirit.  So  that  thy  holy  name  may  be  forever  glori¬ 
fied,  and  thy  blessed  kingdom  enlarged,  through  the 
same,  thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord,  who  liveth 
and  reigneth  with  thee  in  the  unity  of  the  same  Holy 
Spirit,  world  without  end.  Amen. 

[When  this  prayer  is  done,  those  to  be  ordained  should 
remain  kneeling,  and  the  president,  and  the  elders 
present,  shall  lay  their  hands  severally  upon  the  head 
of  each  of  them,  and  the  president  shall  say:] 

The  Lord  pour  upon  thee  the  Holy  Ghost  for  the 

office  and  work  of  an  elder  in  the  Church  of  God  now 


224 


ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS 


committed  unto  thee  by  the  imposition  of  our  hands. 
And  be  thou  a  faithful  dispenser  of  the  word  of  God, 
and  of  his  holy  sacraments;  in  the  name  of  the  Fa¬ 
ther,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

[They  shall  continue  to  kneel,  and  the  president  shall 
deliver  to  each  one  of  them  the  Bible  into  his  hands, 
and  shall  say :]  # 

Take  thou  authority  to  preach  the  word  of  God 
and  to  administer  the  holy  sacraments  in  the  congre¬ 
gation. 


[Then  the  president  shall  say:] 

Most  merciful  Father,  we  beseech  thee  to  send  up¬ 
on  these  thy  servants  thy  heavenly  blessings,  that 
they  may  be  clothed  with  righteousness  and  that  thy 
word  spoken  by  their  mouths  may  have  such  suc¬ 
cess,  that  it  may  never  be  spoken  in  vain.  Grant  us 
also  that  we  may  have  grace  to  hear  and  receive, 
what  they  shall  deliver  out  of  thy  most  holy  word,  or 
agreeably  to  the  same,  as  the  means  of  our  salva¬ 
tion;  and  that  in  all  our  words  and  deeds  we  may  seek 
thy  glory  and  the  increase  of  thy  kingdom  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

Assist  us,  O  Lord,  in  all  our  doings,  with  thy  most 
gracious  favor,  and  further  us  with  thy  continual 
help,  that  in  all  our  works  begun,  continued  and  ended 
in  thee,  we  may  glorify  thy  name,  and  finally,  by  thy 
mercy,  obtain  everlasting  life,  through  Jesus  Christ, 
our  Lord.  Amen. 

The  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
keep  your  hearts  and  minds  in  the  knowledge  and 
love  of  God,  and  of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord; 
and  the  blessings  of  God  Almighty,  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  among  you,  and  remain 
with  vou  always.  Amen. 


ORDINATION  OF  DEACONS 


225 


II.  Ordination  of  Deacons 

If  348.  [When  the  time  appointed  for  the  ordination 
shall  have  come,  one  of  the  elders  shall  present  unto  the 
president  those  who  are  to  be  ordained,  savin?:  :  “I 
present  unto  you  these  persons  (reading  their  names 
aloud)  to  be  ordained  deacons.”  Then  the  president 
shall  say  to  the  people:] 

Brethren,  if  any  of  you  know  any  crime  or  im¬ 
pediment  in  any  of  these  persons  presented  to  be 
ordained  deacon,  for  which  he  ought  not  to  be  ad¬ 
mitted  to  that  office,  come  forth  in  the  name  of  God 
and  show  what  the  crime  or  impediment  is. 

[If  no  crime  nor  impediment  be  alleged,  then  shall  be 
said  the  following  collect  and  epistle:] 

THE  COLLECT 

Almighty  God,  who  by  thy  divine  providence  hath 
appointed  divers  orders  of  ministers  in  thy  Church, 
and  who  didst  inspire  thy  apostles  to  choose  into 
the  order  of  deacons  thy  first  martyr,  St.  Stephen, 
with  others;  mercifully  behold  these  thy  servants, 
now  called  to  the  like  office  and  administrations;  re¬ 
plenish  them  so  with  the  truth  of  thy  doctrine,  and 
adorn  them  with  innocency  of  life,  that  both  by  word 
and  good  example  they  may  faithfully  serve  thee  in 
this  office,  to  the  glory  of  thy  name,  and  the  edifica¬ 
tion  of  thy  Church,  through  the  merits  of  our  Savior, 
Jesus  Christ,  who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  thee  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  now  and  forever.  Amen. 

THE  EPISTLE — 1  TIMOTHY  3  I  8-13 

Deacons  in  like  manner  must  be  grave,  not  double- 
tongued,  not  given  to  much  wine,  no-t  greedy  of  filthy 
lucre;  holding  the  mystery  of  the  faith  in  a  pure  con¬ 
science.  And  let  these  also  first  be  proved;  then  let 
them  serve  as  deacons  if  they  be  blameless.  Women 
in  like  manner  must  be  grave,  not  slanderers,  tern- 


226 


ORDINATION  OF  DEACONS 


perate,  faithful  in  all  things.  Let  deacons  be  hus¬ 
bands  of  one  wife,  ruling  their  children  and  their  own 
houses  well.  For  they  that  have  served  well  as  dea¬ 
cons  gain  to  themselves  a  good  standing,  and  great 
boldness  in  the  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 

[Then  shall  the  president  examine  each  one  of  those 

who  are  to  be  ordained,  in  the  presence  of  the  people, 

after  the  manner  following:] 

President.  Do  you  trust  that  you  are  inwardly 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon  you  the  office 
of  the  ministry  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  to  serve  God 
for  the  promoting  of  his  glory  and  the  edification  of 
his  people? 

Ans.  I  trust  so. 

P.  Do  you  unfeignedly  believe  all  the  canonical 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments? 

A.  I  do  believe  them. 

P.  Will  you  diligently  read  or  expound  the  same 
unto  the  people  whom  you  shall  be  appointed  to 
serve? 

A.  I  will. 

P.  It  appertaineth  to  the  office  of  a  deacon  to  as¬ 
sist  the  elder  in  divine  service.  And  especially  when 
he  ministereth  the  holy  communion, 'and  to  help  him 
in  the  distribution  thereof,  and  to  read  and  expound 
the  Holy  Scriptures;  to  instruct  the  youth,  and  in 
the  absence  of  the  elder  to  baptize.  And,  further¬ 
more,  it  is  his  office  to  search  for  the  sick,  poor,  and 
impotent,  that  they  may  be  visited  and  relieved.  Will 
you  do  this  gladly  and  willingly? 

A.  I  will  do  so  by  the  help  of  God. 

P.  Will  you  apply  all  your  diligence  to  frame  and 
fashion  your  own  lives  (and  the  lives  of  your  fam¬ 
ilies)  according  to  the  doctrine  of  Christ;  and  to  make 
(both)  yourselves  (and  them)  as  much  as  in  you 
lieth,  wholesome  examples  of  the  flock  of  Christ? 


ORDINATION  OF  DEACONS 


227 


A.  I  will  do  so,  the  Lord  being  my  helper. 

P.  Will  you  reverently  obey  them  to  whom  the 
charge  and  government  over  you  is  committed,  fol¬ 
lowing  with  glad  mind  and  will  their  godly  admoni¬ 
tions? 

A.  I  will  endeavor  so  to  do,  the  Lord  being  my 
helper. 

[The  president,  laying  his  hands  severally  upon  the 
head  of  each  one  of  them,  shall  say :] 

Take  thou  authority  to  execute  the  office  of  a  dea¬ 
con  in  the  church  of  God,  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

[Then  shall  the  president  deliver  to  each  one  of  them 
the  Holy  Bible,  saying:] 

Take  thou  authority  to  read  the-  Holy  Scriptures  in 
the  church  of  God,  and  to  preach  in  the  same. 

[Then  one  of  them,  appointed  by  the  president,  shall 

read  the  gospel.] 

Luke  12:  35-38.  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about 
and  your  lights  burning,  and  ye  yourselves  like  unto 
men  that  wait  for  their  Lord,  when  he  will  return 
from  the  wedding,  that  when  he  cometh  and  knocketh, 
they  may  open  unto  him  immediately.  Blessed  are 
those  servants  whom  the  Lord  when  he  cometh  shall 
find  watching.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  shall 
gird  himself,  and  make  them  sit  down  to  meat,  and 
will  come  forth  and  serve  them.  And  if  he  shall  come 
in  the  second  watch,  or  come  in  the  third  watch,  and 
find  them  so,  blessed  are  those  servants. 

[Then  shall  be  said  the  collects  following:] 

Almighty  God,  Giver  of  all  good  things,  who  of 
thy  great  goodness  hast  vouchsafed  to  accept  and 
take  these  thy  servants  into  the  office  of  deacon  of 


228 


ORDINATION  OF  DEACONS 


thy  church;  make  them,  we  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  to 
be  modest,  humble  and  constant  in  their  ministration, 
and  to  have  a  ready  will  to  observe  all  spiritual  dis¬ 
cipline;  that  they  having  always  the  testimony  of  a 
good  conscience,  and  continuing  ever  stable  and  strong 
in  thy  Son,  Christ  Jesus,  may  so  well  behave  them¬ 
selves  in  this  inferior  office,  that  they  may  be  found 
worthy  to  be  called  into  the  higher  ministries  in  thy 
church,  through  the  same,  thy  Son,  our  Savior,  Jesus 
Christ;  to  whom  be  glory  and  honor,  world  without 
end.  Amen. 

Assist  us,  O  Lord,  in  all  our  doings,  with  thy  most 
gracious  favor,  and  further  us  with  thy  continual 
help;  that  in  all  our  works  begun,  continued  and 
ended  in  thee,  we  may  glorify  thy  holy  name,  and 
finally,  by  thy  mercy,  obtain  everlasting  life,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

The  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
keep  your  hearts  and  minds  in  the  knowledge  and 
love  of  God,  and  of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord. 
And  the  blessing  of  God  Almighty,  the  Father,  the 
Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  among  you,  and  remain 
with  you  always.  Amen, 


CHAPTER  VI 


FORM  FOR  DEDICATION  OF  CHURCHES 

f  349.  [The  congregation  being  assembled,  let  an 
appropriate  hymn  be  sung.  Afterward,  let  extemporary 
prayer  be  offered.  Then  shall  the  minister,  or  some  one 
appointed,  read:] 

The  first  lesson,  Psalm  84: 

,How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of  hosts! 
My  soul  longeth,  yea,  even  fainteth  for  the  courts  of 
the  Lord:  my  heart  and  my  flesh  crieth  out  for  the 
living  God.  Yea,  the  sparrow  hath  found  an  house, 
and  the  swallow  a  nest  for  herself,  where  she  may 
lay  her  young,  even  thine  altars,  O  Lord  of  hosts,  my 
King,  and  my  God.  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in 
thy  house:  they  will  be  still  praising  thee.  Selah. 
Blessed  is  the  man  whose  strength  is  in  thee;  in  whose 
heart  are  the  ways  of  them.  Who  passing  through 
the  valley  of  Baca  make  it  a  well;  the  rain  also  filleth 
the  pools.  They  go  from  strength  to  strength,  every 
one  of  them  in  Zion  appeareth  before  God.  O  Lord 
God  of  hosts,  hear  my  prayer:  give  ear,  O  God  of 
Jacob.  Selah.  Behold,  O  God  our  shield,  and  look 
upon  the  face  of  thine  anointed.  For  a  day  in  thy 
courts  is  better  than  a  thousand.  I  had  rather  be 
a  doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  mf^  God,  than  to  dwell 
in  the  tents  of  wickedness.  For  the  Lord  God  is  a 
sun  and  shield:  the  Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory:  no 
good  thing  will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk  up¬ 
rightly.  O  Lord  of  hosts,  blessed  is  the  man  that 
trusteth  in  thee. 


229 


230 


DEDICATION  OF  CHURCHES 


The  second  lesson,  Hebrews  10:  19-26: 

Having  therefore,  brethren,  boldness  to  enter  into 
the  holiest  by  the  blood  of  Jesus,  by  a  new  and  living 
way,  which  he  hath  consecrated  for  us,  through  the 
veil,  that  is  to  say,  his  flesh;  and  having  an  high 
priest  over  the  house  of  God;  let  us  draw  near  with 
a  true  heart  in  full  assurance  of  faith,  having  our 
hearts  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience,  and  our 
bodies  washed  with  pure  water.  Let  us  hold  fast  the 
profession  of  our  faith  without  wavering;  (for  he  is 
faithful  that  promised;)  and  let  us  consider  one  an¬ 
other  to  provoke  unto  love  and  to  good  works:  not 
forsaking  the  assembling  of  ourselves  together,  as 
the  manner  of  some  is;  but  exhorting  one  another: 
and  so  much  the  more,  as  ye  see  the  day  approaching. 
For  if  we  sin  wilfully  after  that  we  have  received  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth,  there  remaineth  no  more 
sacrifice  for  sins. 

(Then  let  an  appropriate  hymn  be  sung;  after  which  the 
minister  shall  deliver  a  sermon  suitable  to  the  occasion. 
Contributions  may  then  be  received  from  the  people.] 
[Then  let  the  trustees  stand  before  the  altar,  and  one  of 
them,  or  some  one  in  their  behalf,  say  unto  the  min¬ 
ister  :] 

We  present  unto  you  this  building,  to  be  dedicated 
as  a  church  for  the  service  and  worship  of  Almighty 
God. 

[Then  shall  the  minister  request  the  congregation  to 
stand,  while  he  repeats  the  following  declaration:] 

DECLARATION 

Dearly  beloved,  it  is  meet  and  right,  as  we  learn 
from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that  houses  erected  for  the 
public  worship  of  God  should  be  specially  set  apart 
and  dedicated  to  religious  uses.  For  such  a  dedica¬ 
tion  we  are  now  assembled.  With  gratitude,  there¬ 
fore,  to  Almighty  God,  who  has  signally  blessed  his 
servants  in  their  holy  enterprise  of  erecting  this 


DEDICATION  OF  CHURCHES 


231 


church,  we  dedicate  it  to  his  service,  for  the  reading  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  preaching  of  the  word  of 
God,  the  administration  of  the  holy  sacraments,  and 
for  all  other  exercises  of  religious  worship  and  ser¬ 
vice,  according  to  the  Discipline  and  usages  of  the 
Free  Methodist  church. 

[Then  let  the  dedicatory  prayer  be  offered.] 


PART  XI 

COURSES  OF  STUDY 


CHAPTERS 

I.  FOR  TRAVELING  PREACHERS 

II.  FOR  LOCAL  PREACHERS 

III.  FOR  DEACONESSES 

IV.  COURSE  OF  READING  FOR  CLASS 

LEADERS 

V.  FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN  AFRICA 

VI.  FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN  INDIA 

VII.  BIBLE  SCHOOL  COURSE  FOR  NATIVES 
IN  INDIA 

VIII.  FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN  CHINA 

IX.  BOARD  OF  EXAMINERS 


CHAPTER  I 


COURSE  OF  STUDY  FOR  TRAVELING 
PREACHERS 

PRELIMINARY 

IT  350.  1.  English  Grammar 

2.  Arithmetic 

3.  Modern  Geography 

4.  Spelling 

5.  Composition 

6.  United  States  History  (Candidates  in  Canada, 
Canadian  History) 

7.  Binney’s  Theological  Compend 

8.  Wesley’s  Plain  Account  of  Christian  Perfection 

9.  Free  Methodist  Discipline 

FIRST  YEAR 

T[35f.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  1,  2 

and  3 

2.  Hogue’s  Homiletics  and  Pastoral  Theology, 
Part  I 

3.  Hill’s  Foundation  of  Rhetoric,  Part  I 

4.  Reed’s  Parliamentary  Rules 

5.  Present  written  sermon 
Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Hogue’s  History  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church, 
Volume  I 

2.  Roberts’  Fishers  of  Men 

3.  Canright:  The  Sabbath  Neither  Popish  nor  Pa¬ 
gan 


235 


236 


COURSES  OF  STUDY 


4.  Hogue’s  The  Class  Meeting  as  a  Means  of 
Grace 

5.  Schaff’s  Person  of  Christ 

6.  Wesley’s  Sermons,  Volume  1,  sermons  1  to  30 
inclusive 

SECOND  YEAR 

352.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  4  and 
5,  and  Part  II 

2.  Hill’s  Foundation  of  Rhetoric,  Part  II 

3.  Homiletics  and  Pastoral  Theology,  Part  II 

4.  Hopkins’  Outline  Study  of  Man 

5.  Elson:  Modern  Times  and  the  Living  Past. 
To  the  period  of  the  Reformation,  page  316 

6.  Present  written  sermon 
Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Hogue’s  History  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church, 
Volume  II 

2.  Wood’s  Perfect  Love 

3.  Blanchard:  Modern  Secret  Societies 

4.  Fitchett’s  Wesley  and  His  Century 

5.  Wesley’s  Sermons,  Volume  I,  sermons  31  to  58 
inclusive 

THIRD  YEAR 

353.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Parts  III  and  IV 

2.  Smith’s  Old  Testament  History 

3.  Wayland’s  Moral  Science,  or  Hopkins’  Law  of 
Love  and  Love  as  a  Law 

4.  Elson:  Modern  Times  and  Living  Past.  From 
the  period  of  the  Reformation  to  the  world  war 

5.  Fisher’s  Church  History,  first  half 

6.  Present  written  sermon 
Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism 

2.  Life  of  Redfield 

3.  Hogue’s  Hymns  That  Are  Immortal 

4.  Lowery’s  Possibilities  of  Grace. 


FOR  TRAVELING  PREACHERS 


237 


FOURTH  YEAR 

354.  1.  Burrell's  Why  I  Believe  the  Bible 

2.  Smith’s  New  Testament  History 

3.  Coleman’s  Social  Ethics 

4.  Jevon’s  Logic  (primer  edition) 

5.  Fisher’s  Church  History,  second  half 

6.  Present  written  sermon 
Books  to  be  read: 

1.  D’Aubigne’s  History  of  the  Reformation,  or 
Linsay:  Vol.  I.  Reformation  in  Germany.  Vol.  II. 
Reformation  in  the  Lands  Beyond  Germany 

2.  Esenwein’s  How  to  Attract  and  Hold  an  Au¬ 
dience 

3.  The  Indwelling  Christ,  by  Baldwin 

4.  Hogue’s  The  Holy  Spirit,  A  Study 


CHAPTER  II 


COURSE  OF  STUDY  FOR  LOCAL  PREACHERS 

I.  For  Local  Preachers  Who  are  to  be  Examined  by 
the  Quarterly  Conference 

FIRST  YEAR 

355.  1.  Binney’s  Theological  Compend 

2.  Wesley’s  Plain  Account  of  Christian  Perfection 

3.  Articles  of  Religion  and  General  Rules  of  the 
Free  Methodist  Discipline 

Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Roberts’  Fishers  of  Men 

2.  MacGeary’s  Outline  History  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  Church 

3.  Wesley’s  Sermons,  Volume  I,  sermons  1  to  15 
inclusive 


SECOND  YEAR 

fl  356.  1.  Sims’  Helps  to  Bible  Study  (revised 

edition) 

2.  Hogue’s  Handbook  of  Homiletics  and  Pastoral 
Theology,  Part  I 

Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Wood’s  Perfect  Love 

2.  Schaff’s  Person  of  Christ 

3.  Wesley’s  Sermons,  Volume  I,  sermons  16  to  30 
inclusive 

The  examination  of  local  preachers  and  evangelists 
may  be  conducted  orally. 


238 


COURSES  OF  STUDY 


239 


II.  For  Local  Preachers  Who  Wish  to  be  Ordained 

Deacons 

357.  1.  Field’s  Handbook  of  Theology,  first  half 
2.  Smith’s  Old  Testament  History 

Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Hogue’s  History  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church, 
Volume  I 

2.  Burrell’s  Why  I  Believe  the  Bible 

3.  The  Indwelling  Christ,  by  Baldwin 

III.  For  Local  Deacons  Who  Wish  to  be  Ordained 

Elders 

358.  1.  Field’s  Handbook  of  Theology,  second 

half 

2.  Smith’s  New  Testament  History 
Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Hogue’s  History  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 
Volume  II 

2.  Blanchard:  Modern  Secret  Societies. 

3.  Fitchett's  Wesley  and  His  Century 

N.  B. — The  examination  of  local  preachers  who  wish 
to  be  ordained  shall  be  conducted  by  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence.  Let  the  examining  committees  and  candidates  to 
be  examined  be  present  at  the  seat  of  conference  for 
examinations  not  later  than  the  first  day  of  the  confer¬ 
ence  session.  Candidates  not  present  at  such  time  forfeit 
their  right  to  examination  for  taat  year.  In  conducting 
examinations,  examiners  shall  report  the  standing  of 
each  candidate  in  each  book  according  to  a  scale  of  ten, 
six  being  satisfactory. 


CHAPTER  III 


COURSE  OF  STUDY  FOR  DEACONESSES 

FIRST  YEAR 

ft  359.  1.  Free  Methodist  Discipline 

2.  Hurst’s  Outline  of  Bible  History  (Normal 
Edition) 

3.  American  Red  Cross  and  Home  Hygiene 

Books  to  be  read: 

1.  All  About  the  Bible,  by  Collett 

2.  Clara  Leffingwell,  a  Missionary,  by  Sellew 

3.  Deaconess,  Ancient  and  Modern,  by  Wheeler 

SECOND  YEAR 

ft  359a.  1.  Binney’s  Theological  Compend 

2.  Weslej^’s  Plain  Account  of  Christian  Perfection 

3.  Roberts:  Fishers  of  Men 

Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Arthur's  Tongue  of  Fire 

2.  The  Heart  of  Asbury’s  Journal,  by  Tipple 

3.  Hogue:  Hymns  That  Are  Immortal 

4.  Thoburn:  The  Deaconess  and  Her  Vocation 

The  examination  of  deaconesses  shall  be  con¬ 
ducted  by  the  annual  conference  board  of  examiners, 
and  may  be  conducted  orally.  See  paragraph  174 
(11).  A  deaconess  having  completed  the  foregoing 
studies  of  the  first  and  second  years  is  eligible  to 
be  licensed  by  the  annual  conference,  according  to 
paragraph  174  (6). 


240 


CHAPTEK  IV 


COURSE  OF  READING  FOR  CLASS  LEADERS 

ff  360.  The  following  course  of  reading  for  class 
leaders  is  recommended  by  the  general  conference  in 
the  belief  that  it  will  meet  a  general  need  throughout 
our  work,  and  that  the  few  inexpensive  volumes 
therein  named  are  of  such  a  character  as  cannot  fail 
to  benefit  all  class  leaders  who  will  carefully  read 
them,  not  only  in  the  way  of  personal  edification,  but 
also  in  the  way  of  increasing  their  efficiency  in  deal¬ 
ing  with  those  under  their  care  in  this  responsible 
office. 

Discipline  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church 
Binney’s  Theological  Compend 
The  Class  Meeting  as  a  Means  of  Grace  (Hogue) 
Life  of  William  Bramwell  (Thompson) 

Life  of  J.  W.  Bedfield  (Terrill) 

Christian  Perfection  (Wesley) 

Perfect  Love  (Wood) 

Fishers  of  Men  (Roberts) 

Hymns  That  Are  Immortal  (Hogue) 

History  of  Methodism  (Stevens,  Abridged) 

Daniel  Quorm  and  His  Religious  Notions  (Pearse) 
The  King’s  Son.  A  Memoir  of  Billy  Bray 
The  Christian’s  Secret  of  a  Happy  Life 
Outline  History  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church 
In  Christ  (Pierson) 

The  Person  of  Christ  (Schaff) 

Blanchard:  Modern  Secret  Societies 
Lowery:  Possibilities  of  Grace 


241 


CHAPTER  V 


COURSE  OF  STUDY  FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN 

AFRICA* 

FIRST  YEAR 

IT  36 1 .  1.  Grammar,  in  native  language 

2.  Translate  St.  John’s  Gospel  from  vernacular 

3.  Composition  work  in  native  language 

4.  Free  Methodist  Discipline 

5.  Steele’s  Bible  Study 

Books  to  be  read: 

1.  “Essential  Kaffir.”  At  Inhambane,  “The  Life 
of  a  South  African  Tribe” 

2.  Redemption  of  Africa,  Volume  I 

3.  “The  Foreign  Missionary,”  by  Brown 

4.  Roberts’  Fishers  of  Men 

SECOND  YEAR 

IT  362.  1.  Papers  in  vernacular  on  “Paul’s  Mis¬ 

sionary  Journeys,”  and  “Life  of  Joseph” 

2.  Translate  from  vernacular  first  fifteen  chapters 
of  Genesis  and  three  of  Paul’s  shorter  epistles 

3.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  1,  2  and  3 

4.  Wesley’s  Plain  Account  of  Christian  Perfection 

5.  Hogue’s  Homiletics 

*  This  course  of  study  to  apply  to  all  missionaries  in 
Africa  who  are  candidates  for  ordination.  Others  to 
take  the  course  of  reading  and  to  pass  examination  in 
the  vernacular  language. 


242 


FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN  AFRICA 


243 


Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Redemption  of  Africa,  Volume  II 

2.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  I 

3.  Theal’s  History,  and  Whitman’s  Geography  of 
South  Africa 

4.  G.  Harry  Agnew,  a  Pioneer  Missionary 

THIED  YEAR 

363.  1.  Translate  first  fifty  Psalms  from  ver¬ 
nacular 

2.  Translate  into  the  vernacular  a  “First  Reader” 

3.  Read  in  vernacular,  “Journey  to  the  King” 

4.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  4  and  5,  and 
Part  II 

5.  Hopkins’  Outline  Study  of  Man 
Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Healing  of  the  Nations 

2.  Hogue’s  History  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church, 
Volume  I 

3.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  II 

FOURTH  YEAR 

364.  L  Translate  into  the  vernacular  a  small 
book.  “The  Dairyman’s  Daughter,”  suggested  or 
some  other  book  as  selected  by  board  of  examiners 

2.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Parts  III  and  IV 

3.  Hurlbut’s  Biblical  Geography 

4.  Fisher’s  Church  History 
Books  to  be  read: 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  IH 

2.  Hogue’s  History  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church, 
Volume  II 

3.  New  Acts  of  the  Apostles 

4.  Pilgrim’s  Progress  in  vernacular 


CHAPTER  VI 


COURSE  OF  STUDY  FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN 

INDIA* 

FIBST  YEAR 

U  365.  1.  Free  Methodist  Discipline 

2.  Wesley’s  Plain  Account  of  Christian  Perfection 

3.  New  Testament  Study  in  Missions 

4.  All  About  the  Bible,  by  Collett 
Books  to  be  read — in  English: 

1.  Thoburn’s  Missionary  Apprenticeship 

2.  Murdock’s  Indian  Missionary  Manual 

3.  Roberts’  Fishers  of  Men 

4.  Geography  of  India,  by  Patterson 
Books  to  be  read — in  Marathi: 

1.  The  First  Three  Gospels 

2.  Genesis  to  Deuteronomy,  inclusive 

3.  Christianity  and  Hinduism  Compared,  by  Pad* 
manji 

SECOND  YEAB 

366.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  1,  2 
and  3 

2.  Sims’  Helps  to  Bible  Study 

3.  First  Half  of  History  of  India  for  High  Schools 
and  Colleges,  published  by  the  C.  L.  S.  of  Madras 

4.  MacGeary’s  Outline  History  of  the  Free  Meth- 
olist  Church 

Books  to  be  read— in  English : 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  I 

*  This  course  of  study  to  apply  to  all  missionaries 
1b  India  who  are  candidates  for  ordination. 

244 


FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN  INDIA 


245 


2.  Modern  Apostles  in  Missionary  By-ways 

3.  Arsenal,  Part  I 

Books  to  be  read — in  Marathi: 

1.  The  Gospel  of  John,  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and 
Paul’s  Epistle  to  the  Romans 

2.  Joshua  to  Esther 

3.  Arunodaya,  by  Padmanji 

THIED  YEAR 

367.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  4  and 
5,  and  Part  II 

2.  History  of  India,  last  half 

3.  Hogue’s  Homiletics,  Part  I 
Books  to  be  read — in  English: 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  II 

2.  Wood’s  Perfect  Love 

3.  Arsenal,  Part  II 

4.  Hinduism  and  Christianity  Compared,  by  Rob¬ 
son 

Books  to  be  read — in  Marathi: 

1.  I  Corinthians  to  Hebrews 

2.  Job  to  Song  of  Solomon 

FOURTH  YEAR 

ft  368.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Parts  in  and  IV 

2.  Hurlbut’s  Biblical  Geography 

3.  Hogue’s  Homiletics,  Part  II 
Books  to  be  read — in  English: 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  III 

2.  Roberts’  Holiness  Teachings 

3.  New  Acts  of  the  Apostles 

4.  Arsenal,  Part  III 

Books  to  be  read — in  Marathi: 

1.  James  to  Revelation 

2.  Isaiah  to  Malachi 

3.  “Pan  Lakshat  Kon  Gheto” 


CHAPTER  VII 


BIBLE  SCHOOL  COURSE  OF  STUDY  FOR 
NATIVES  IN  INDIA 

I.  Students  for  Three  Years 

FIRST  YEAR 

369.  Study:  Matthew,  Genesis,  Catechism. 

Read:  Chandra  Lila,  Sundar  Singh. 

SECOND  YEAR 

370.  Study:  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Mark,  Luke, 
Torrey  I. 

Read:  Life  of  Colonel  Weerasoorie,  Story  of  Mary 
Jones  and  her  Bible. 

THIRD  YEAR 

371.  Study:  Whole  Pentateuch,  John,  Acts,  Tor¬ 
rey  II. 

Read:  Life  of  John  G.  Paton,  Barth’s  Bible  Stories. 

When  the  first  three  years’  work  has  been  satis¬ 
factorily  done,  students  may  be  granted  an  exhorter's 
license  and  stationed  as  preachers,  with  an  increase 
in  pay  of  rupees  1  per  month  for  passing  with  an 
average  of  80%  or  over,  or  of  annas  8  per  month  for 
passing  with  an  average  of  60%  to  70%.  The  aver¬ 
age  is  for  the  first  three  years’  work,  but  the  increase 
is  not  given  until  all  subjects  have  been  completed. 

II.  Exhorters,  for  Two  Years 

FIRST  YEAR 

Tf  372.  Study:  Joshua  to  Ruth,  Harmony  of  Gos¬ 
pels,  Discipline,  pp.  3-37. 

Read:  Life  of  Pandita  Ramabai,  Manual  of  Chris¬ 
tian  Doctrines. 


246 


FOR  NATIVES  IN  INDIA 


247 


SECOND  YEAR 

ft  373.  Study:  Old  Testament  Kingdom  Period, 
Romans,  Discipline,  pp.  55-111,  Religion  Weighed. 

Read:  Historical  Evidence  for  the  Truth  of  the 
Christian  Scriptures,  Pilgrim’s  Progress. 

III.  Local  Preachers,  for  Four  Years 

FIRST  YEAR 

ft  374.  Study:  Isaiah,  General  Epistles  of  Paul, 
Binney,  pp.  1-42,  Hinduism  and  Christianity  Com¬ 
pared  I,  Church  History  I. 

Read:  Autobiography  of  Baba  Padmanji,  Prevail¬ 
ing  Prayer. 


SECOND  YEAR 

ft  375.  Study:  Period  of  Captivity,  both  history 
and  prophecy,  Hebrews,  Binney,  pp.  43-62,  Church 
History  II,  Hinduism  and  Christianity  Compared  II. 

Read:  Life  of  Mohammed,  Holiness,  by  Tracy. 

THIRD  YEAR 

ft  376.  Study:  Remaining  Prophets  with  a  review 
of  all  the  prophets,  Pastoral  Letters,  Binney,  pp.  63- 
106,  Church  History  III. 

Read:  Edward’s  Holy  Spirit,  Part  I,  Life  of  Lu¬ 
ther. 


FOURTH  YEAR 

ft  377.  Study:  Poetical  Books  of  Bible,  Revela¬ 
tion,  Binney,  pp.  113-123,  Discipline,  Part  9  (Rit¬ 
ual),  Church  History  IV. 

Read:  Edward’s  Holy  Spirit,  Part  II,  Life  of 
Mackay  of  Uganda. 


CHAPTER  VIII 


COURSE  OF  STUDY  FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN 

CHINA* 


FIRST  YEAR 

For  examination: 

If  378.  1.  Free  Methodist  Discipline 

2.  Wesley-’s  Plain  Account 

3.  New  Testament  Studies  in  Missions.  Beach 

4.  Steele’s  Bible  Study 
For  reading  in  English: 

1.  Fishers  of  Men.  Roberts 

2.  The  Class  Meeting.  Hogue 

3.  Chinese  Characteristics 

4.  Jubilee  Story  of  the  China  Inland  Mission, 
pages  1  to  212 

For  reading  in  Chinese: 

1.  Matthew  and  John 

2.  Old  Testament  History 
To  be  memorized: 

Lord’s  Prayer,  John  3:  16,  Acts  4:  12,  Romans  1: 
16,  all  in  Chinese 


SECOND  YEAR 

For  examination: 

379.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  1,  2 

and  3 

2.  Hogue’s  Homiletics,  Part  I 

3.  Hurlbut’s  Biblical  Geography 


*  This  course  of  study  to  apply  to  all  missionaries  in 
China  who  are  candidates  for  ordination. 


248 


FOR  MISSIONARIES  IN  CHINA 


249 


For  reading  in  English: 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  I 

2.  Clara  Leffingwell,  Sellew 

3.  Jubilee  Story  of  the  China  Inland  Mission, 
pages  213  to  the  end 

4.  Three  Religions  of  China.  Soothill 

For  reading  in  Chinese: 

1.  Pilgrim’s  Progress 

2.  Acts  to  Hebrews 

To  be  memorized: 

Matthew  11:  28-30;  28:  20;  John  14:  1-3;  John  15; 
4-5,  all  in  Chinese 

Conduct  morning  prayers  or  other  service  before 
examiner,  giving  eight  to  ten  minutes’  address  in  Chi¬ 
nese. 


THIRD  YEAR 

For  examination: 

380.  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Part  I,  Books  4 

and  5,  and  Part  II 

2.  History  of  China.  Hawkes-Pott,  pages  1-lOS 

3.  Hogue’s  Homiletics,  Part  II 

For  reading  in  English: 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  II 

2.  Wood’s  Perfect  Love 

3.  The  Foreign  Missionary.  Brown 

4.  MacGeary’s  Outline  History  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  Church 

For  reading  in  Chinese: 

1.  Genesis.  Exodus  Ch.  1-20;  Lev.  Ch.  1-8;  Judges 
to  1  Samuel;  Psalms  1-41 

To  be  memorized: 

Psalm  1  in  Chinese 

Give  a  Gospel  address  or  Scripture  discourse  in 
Chinese  of  not  less  than  twenty  minutes 


250 


COURSE  OF  STUDY 


FOURTH  YEAR 

For  examination: 

38 1 .  1.  Ralston’s  Divinity,  Parts  III  and  IV 

2.  History  of  China,  Part  II 

3.  Fisher’s  Church  History 
For  reading  in  English: 

1.  Stevens’  History  of  Methodism,  Volume  HI 

2.  New  Acts  of  the  Apostles 

3.  Lowery:  Possibilities  of  Grace 

4.  Fisher’s  History  of  the  Reformation 
For  reading  in  Chinese: 

1.  Psalms  42  to  150 

2.  Isaiah  Ch.  36  to  66,  Joel,  Malachi 

3.  James  to  Jude.  Wenli 
Conduct  a  Chinese  Sunday  service 


CHAPTEE  IX 


CENTRAL  BOARD  OF  CONFERENCE 
EXAMINERS 

382.  1.  There  shall  be  a  central  board,  con¬ 

sisting  of  five  members,  on  the  uniform  examinations 
in  the  conference  courses  of  study. 

2.  This  board  shall  formulate  rules  and  prepare 
questions  for  examinations,  and  during  the  interim  of 
the  general  conference  sessions  shall  have  power  to 
settle  all  questions  concerning  the  same,  which  are 
not  already  settled  by  action  of  the  general  conference 
or  rulings  of  the  bishops. 

3.  The  board  shall  answer  all  questions  concern¬ 
ing  the  course  of  study,  through  its  secretary,  whose 
name  and  address  shall  be  published  in  the  combined 
minutes  for  that  purpose. 

4.  This  board  shall  also  be  authorized  to  make 
changes  which  become  necessary  in  the  courses  of 
study. 

5.  The  general  conference  of  1923  elected  the  fol¬ 
lowing  board:  David  S.  Warner,  president;  J.  LaDue, 
W.  B.  Olmstead,  C.  E.  Harroun,  G.  W.  Griffith. 


251 


PART  XII 


APPENDIX 

The  matter  contained  in  this  appendix  is  deemed 
of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  its  publication 
in  this  form.  Some  of  it  is  taken  from  the  general 
conference  journals,  and  is  therefore  the  action  of 
the  general  conference,  although  not  ordained  as  a 
part  of  the  Discipline.  Other  matters  are  inserted 
because  suggestive  and  convenient  for  reference,  as 
postoffice  addresses,  administrative  boards,  forms  of 
procedure,  etc. 


CHAPTERS 

I.  INCORPORATION 

II.  RESIDENCES,  ADDRESSES,  ETC. 

III.  ADMINISTRATIVE  BOARDS 

IV.  CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW  BY  THE  GEN 

ERAL  CONFERENCE 

V.  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  WO 
MAN’S  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
FORMS 


VI. 


CHAPTER  I 


INCORPORATION 

INCORPORATION  OF  THE  FREE  METHODIST 

CHURCH 

383.  “An  act  to  incorporate  the  Free  Methodist 
General  Conference  of  North  America,  passed  April 
30,  1S73.” 

The  people  of  the  state  of  New  York,  represented 
in  senate  and  assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

1.  The  General  Conference  of  the  Free  Methodist 
Church  of  North  America  shall  be,  and  is  hereby  de¬ 
clared  to  be,  a  corporate  and  politic  body,  by  the  name 
and  style  of  the  “Free  Methodist  General  Conference 
of  North  America,”  and  by  that  name  it  shall  have 
perpetual  succession;  shall  be  capable  of  suing  and 
being  sued  in  any  court  whatever;  and  shall  have  and 
use  a  common  seal,  which  they  may  alter  and  change 
at  pleasure. 

2.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  regular  members  of 
said  general  conference,  at  its  regular  constitutional 
meetings,  to  appoint  such  officers,  and  to  make  and 
ordain  such  by-laws  and  regulations  in  relation  to  the 
management  and  disposition  of  their  real  and  per¬ 
sonal  estate,  the  duties  of  their  officers,  and  the  man¬ 
agement  of  the  corporate  offices,  as  they  shall  think 
proper;  provided  they  are  not  inconsistent  with  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

3.  The  said  corporation  shall  have  power  to  hold 
in  trust  church  property,  and  deeds  of  other  benefi¬ 
cent,  educational  or  publishing  institutions-  and  of 


255 


INCORPORATION 


taking,  holding  and  receiving  any  property — real  or 
personal  or  mixed — by  virtue  of  any  devise,  bequest, 
grant  or  purchase,  subject  to  the  restrictions  and 
limitations  of  existing  laws;  provided  the  annual  in¬ 
come  of  such  property  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  that  the  same  shall 
be  appropriated  to  religious,  charitable,  missionary, 
or  educational  purposes;  and  to  sell,  deed  and  convey 
any  real  or  personal  property,  when  necessary  to 
serve  the  purposes  of  the  corporation. 

4.  The  officers  of  said  corporation  shall  hold  over 
until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified,  and 
shall  exercise  such  powers  and  do  such  duties  as 
shall  be  authorized  by  the  by-laws  of  said  corporation. 

5.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

(1 )  The  following  named  persons  shall  be  the 
trustees  of  the  “Free  Methodist  General  Conference 
of  North  America,”  as  provided  for  in  the  act  of  cor¬ 
poration,  passed  April  30,  1S73,  by  the  legislature  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  to  wit:  J.  Travis,  J.  G.  Ter¬ 
rill,  John  Ellison,  J.  L.  Ward,  O.  P.  Rogers,  D.  W. 
Abrams. 

(2)  The  said  trustees  shall  have  full  power  to  take 
possession  of  and  to  receive  and  hold,  subject  to 
the  order  and  direction  of  the  general  conference, 
any  property,  real,  or  personal,  or  mixed,  which  may 
be  owned  by  or  belong  to  the  said  general  confer¬ 
ence,  by  virtue  of  any  devise,  bequest,  grant  or  pur¬ 
chase. 

(3)  The  said  trustees  shall  be  divided  into  two 
classes,  as  follows,  to-wit: 

The  first  class  shall  comprise  J.  Ellison,  J.  L.  Ward, 
O.  P.  Rogers. 

The  second  class  shall  comprise  J.  Travis,  J.  G. 
Terrill,  D.  W.  Abrams. 

The  first  class,  elected  this  year,  shall  hold  their 


INCORPORATION 


257 


office  for  four  years,  and  until  others  are  appointed 
in  their  places. 

The  second  class  shall  hold  their  office  eight  years, 
and  until  others  shall  be  appointed  in  their  places. 

(4)  The  said  trustees  shall  elect  their  president, 
secretary,  and  treasurer,  who  shall  perform  the  du¬ 
ties  usually  pertaining  to  their  office. 

(5)  The  said  trustees  shall  make  a  full  report  of 
all  their  proceedings  to  each  successive  general  con¬ 
ference. 

(6)  If  the  place  of  any  of  these  trustees  shall  be¬ 
come  vacant  during  the  intervals  of  a  general  con¬ 
ference,  it  shall  be  filled  by  the  remaining  trustees. 

(7)  The  general  conference  of  1915  took  action 
to  authorize  a  new  incorporation  in  Illinois,  as  our 
headquarters  had  been  moved  to  Chicago,  and  they 
authorized  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference  to  incorporate.  This  was  done  and  on  De¬ 
cember  2,  1915,  a  charter  was  granted  by  the  state  of 
Illinois  incorporating  as  above  under  the  title  of 
“Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  of 
North  America.”  This  incorporation  was  approved 
by  the  general  conference  of  1919,  and  this  new  cor¬ 
poration  was  duly  authorized  to  take  over  all  the 
duties  and  exercise  the  prerogatives  of  the  old  New 
York  State  corporation. 

(8)  Form  of  bequest  of  money  or  other  personal 
property:  “I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  Free  Method¬ 
ist  General  Conference  of  North  America  the  sum 

of . dollars,  to  be  used  and  appropriated  by  that 

body  to  religious,  charitable,  missionary  or  educa¬ 
tional  purposes.” 

Beal  estate: 

“I  grant  and  devise  (full  description  of  the  land).” 


CHAPTER  II 


RESIDENCES,  ADDRESSES,  ETC. 


384.  Bishops 

Walter  A.  Sellew, 

68  Falconer  Street,  Jamestown,  New  York 
William  Pearce,  2318  Ridge  Avenue,  Evanston,  Illinois 
William  H.  Clark,  412  William  Street,  Rome,  New  York 
David  S.  Warner,  Glen  Ellyn,  Illinois 


J j  385.  Publishing  Agent 

William  B.  Rose, 

1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 

f[  386.  Editors 


George  W.  Griffith,  The  Free  Methodist, 

1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 
Burton  J.  Vincent,  Sunday-school  Periodicals, 

1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 
Joseph  B.  Lutz,  The  Sunday  School  Worker, 

1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 

ft  387.  Corresponding  Secretaries 

William  B.  Olmstead,  General  Missionary  Board, 

1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 
Joseph  B.  Lutz,  General  Sunday  School  Secretary, 

1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 
L.  Glenn  Lewis,  Educational  Secretary, 

1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 
Mendal  B.  Miller,  Board  of  Conference  Claimants,  Board 
of  Trustees,  Executive  Committee, 

1131  Elk  Street,  Franklin,  Pennsylvania 


388.  Treasurers 

Newton  W.  Fink,  General  Missionary  Board,  Church 
Extension  Society,  Board  of  Conference  Claimants, 
Bishops’  Fund,  Sunday-school  Board,  Board  of  Edu¬ 
cation,  1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 
Lillian  Camp  Jensen,  General  Woman’s  Missionary  So¬ 
ciety,  1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 

389.  General  Conference  Evangelists 


E.  Ballenger 

A.  D.  Zahniser, 

B.  W.  Huckabee 
A.  L.  Whitcomb 


Shenandoah,  Iowa 
Greenville,  Illinois 
Chicago,  Illinois 
University  Park,  Iowa 


258 


CHAPTER  III 


ADMINISTRATIVE  BOARDS 


ff  390.  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Free  Methodist 
Church  of  North  America 


Office:  1132  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois 
President,  Walter  A.  Sellew 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mendal  B.  Miller 


1. 

William  Pearce 


Terms  expire  in  1927 
William  H.  Clark, 


C.  I.  Tenney 


2. 

Walter  A.  Sellew, 


Terms  expire  in  1931 

Mendal  B.  Miller,  David  S.  Warner 


IT  39 1 .  Executive  Committee 


President,  Walter  A.  Sellew 
Secretary,  Mendal  B.  Miller 

District  Name  and  Class  Conference 

Walter  A.  Sellew,  Bishop . Oil  City 

William  Pearce,  Bishop . Genesee 

William  H.  Clark,  Bishop . Susquehanna 

David  S.  Warner,  Bishop . Michigan 

I.  Mendal  B.  Miller,  Minister . Oil  City 

G.  A.  Lees,  Lay  Member . ..West  Ontario 

II.  J.  T.  Logan,  Minister . New  York 

C.  A.  Lowell,  Lay  Member . Susquehanna 

III.  Joseph  A.  Watson,  Minister . North  Indiana 

Harlow  Hoyt,  Lay  Member . East  Michigan 

IV.  George  W.  Griffith,  Minister . Central  Illinois 

J.  M.  Daniels,  Lay  Member . Central  Illinois 

V.  B.  J.  Vincent,  Minister . South  Dakota 

G.  J.  Archer,  Lay  Member . West  Kansas 

VI.  W.  N.  Coffee,  Minister . Oregon 

A.  G.  Ball,  Lay  Member . Southern  California 


The  executive  committee  also  constitutes  the  board 
of  conference  claimants  and  the  church  extension  so¬ 
ciety. 


259 


260 


ADMINISTRATIVE  BOARDS 


ff  392.  Board  of  Education 

David  S.  Warner 
C.  W.  Bacon 

E.  A.  Andrews 
A.  J.  Damon 
C.  I.  Tenney 
W.  B.  Olmstead 
H.  S.  Dye 

R.  A.  Thompson 

F.  E.  Pond 
W.  W.  Vinson 

L.  G.  Lewis,  General  Educational  Secretary 


TT  393.  General  Missionary  Board 


President,  William  Pearce 
Secretary,  William  B.  Olmstead 
Treasurer,  Newton  W.  Fink 

District  Name  and  Class  Conference 

Walter  A.  Sellew,  Bishop . Oil  City 

William  Pearce,  Bishop . Genesee 

William  H.  Clark,  Bishop . Susquehanna 

David  S.  Warner,  Bishop . Michigan 

I.  J.  M.  Critchlow,  Minister . . Oil  City 

Grant  C.  Woods,  Lay  Member... . Genesee 

II.  R.  A.  Zahniser,  Minister . Pittsburgh 

W.  F.  Guffey,  Lay  Member . . Ohio 

III.  H.  Montgomery,  Minister . Michigan 

Peter  White,  Lay  Member . North  Michigan 

IV.  C.  E.  Harroun,  Minister . .......Texas 

A.  C.  Enderlin,  Lay  Member . Wabash 

V.  A.  L.  Whitcomb,  Minister . . ....Iowa 

A.  W.  Gillingham,  Lay  Member . ....Wisconsin 

VI.  W.  W.  Vinson,  Minister . Southern  California 

A.  Verkuyl,  Lay  Member...... . California 


Mary  L.  Coleman,  President 

Woman’s  'Missionary  Society 
Mrs.  Carrie  T.  Burritt  Woman’s  Missionary  Society 
Emma  L.  Hogue  Woman’s  Missionary  Society 

Agnes  Benn  Woman’s  Missionary  Society 


The  general  missionary  board  and  the  superinten¬ 
dents  of  The  Gerry  Homes,  the  Woodstock  Homes 
and  the  Life  Line  Orphanage  constitute  the  board  of 
charities  and  benevolences. 


ADMINISTRATIVE  BOARDS 


261 


fl  394.  General  Sunday  School  Board 

W.  H.  Clark,  President 

G.  W.  Griffith.  Recording  Secretary 

,T.  B.  Lutz,  General  Sunday-school  Secretary 

B.  J.  Vincent 

E.  A.  Holtwick 

J.  H.  Whiteman 

L.  E.  Cook 

A.  G.  Ball 

J.  R.  H.  Bell 

G.  A.  Lees 

Treasurer  of  the  church  funds,  treasurer 


f[  395.  Central  Board  of  Conference  Examiners 

David  S.  Warner,  President 
William  B.  Olmstead,  Secretary 
John  LaDue 

C.  E.  Harroun 
George  W.  Griffith 


396.  Board  of  Aggressive  Evangelism 

W.  A.  Sellew 
W.  Pearce 
W.  H.  Clark 

D.  S.  Warner 

A.  D.  Zahniser 

B.  W.  Huckabee 

E.  Ballenger 

A.  L.  Whitcomb 


CHAPTER  IV 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW  BY  THE  GENERAL 

CONFERENCE 

DECISIONS  OF  SUPERINTENDENTS 

Approved  by  general  conferences,  and  general  conference 
resolutions  having  the  force  of  law 

From  Journal  of  1866 

397.  On  Hop-Growing — Resolved,  That  in  our 
opinion,  the  raising  of  hops  for  the  general  market  is 
a  violation  of  the  rule  of  Discipline  prohibiting  “evil 
of  every  kind;”  and  also  of  the  rule  prohibiting  the 
“doing  of  what  we  know  is  not  for  the  glory  of  God.” 

398.  On  Missions. — Resolved,  That  the  general 
missionary  board  shall  have  charge  of  all  missions 
outside  of  the  recognized  bounds  of  the  annual  con¬ 
ferences. 

399.  Disapproval  of  Conference  Action.— Re¬ 
solved,  1.  That  the  action  of  the  Susquehanna  con¬ 
ference  in  passing  a  certain  resolution  on  the  use  of 
tobacco,  be  disapproved;  the  said  conference  having 
transcended  its  powers  in  attempting  to  enact  laws. 
(The  resolution  referred  to  was  passed  by  the  Sus¬ 
quehanna  conference  in  1886,  and  read  as  follows: 
“Resolved,  That  if  any  of  the  preachers  of  this  con¬ 
ference  are  known  to  indulge  in  the  use  of  tobacco, 
either  by  chewing  or  smoking,  during  the  coming  year, 
they  shall,  at  the  next  session  of  the  conference,  be 
discontinued  from  the  traveling  connection.”) 

2.  That  the  action  of  the  Susquehanna  conference, 

262 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


263 


in  receiving  a  preacher  in  full  connection  after  but 
one  year’s  trial,  be  disapproved. 

If  400.  Law  Question:  “Has  an  annual  conference 
authority  under  the  discipline  to  try  a  probationer 
upon  charges  of  immoral  conduct?” 

Conference  voted  nay,  12  to  5. 

From  Journal  of  1870 

If  401.  On  the  Admission  of  Ministers. — It  was  de¬ 
cided  by  the  president  that  as  all  the  disciplinary 
questions  may  be  acted  on  at  any  time  during  the  ses¬ 
sion  of  an  annual  conference  it  is  right  to  report  min¬ 
isters  received  into  full  connection  as  having  a  seat 
in  the  conference.  On  motion,  conference  sustained 
the  decision. 

ft  402.  On  Conference  Resolutions. — No  annual 
conference  shall  pass  resolutions  or  adopt  reports 
interpreting  Discipline,  and  then  hold  any  minister  or 
member  to  trial  for  violating  such  resolution  or  re¬ 
ports. 

If  403.  If  complaints  are  made  against  a  member, 
involving  immorality  or  a  violation  of  our  rules,  he 
is  entitled  to  a  speedy  trial,  unless  said  complaints 
are  otherwise  disposed  of. 

If  404.  No  secretary  of  any  annual  conference  has 
a  right  to  insert  anything  in  the  conference  records 
other  than  actual  conference  business. 

f[405.  Resolved,  That  we  disapprove  of  the  prac¬ 
tise  of  calling  a  quarterly  conference  together  in  any 
other  way  than  that  prescribed  by  the  Discipline. 

From  Journal  of  1874 

If  406.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  con¬ 
ference  that  the  rule  of  our  Discipline,  forbidding  the 
wearing  of  gold,  applies  to  those  who  wear  gold  wed¬ 
ding  rings. 


2G4 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


Frcm  Journal  cf  1878 

fl  407.  In  the  case  of  a  layman,  who  was  refused 
admission  as  delegate  to  the  New  York  conference; 
it  being  claimed  that  he  was  not  a  member  of  the 
church  which  elected  him: 

The  president  held  that  in  the  admission  of  a 
delegate  to  which  objection  is  made,  an  annual  con¬ 
ference  may  inquire, 

1.  If  the  society  meeting  was  held  and  the  election 
fairly  conducted  according  to  Discipline. 

2.  If  the  returns  were  correctly  made. 

3.  If  the  person  elected  was  eligible. 

But  the  chair  decided  that  each  society  has  the 
right  to  determine  who  are  its  members;  that  an  an¬ 
nual  conference  has  no  right  to  decide  who  are  or 
who  are  not  members  of  any  particular  society. 

This  decision  was  appealed  from,  and  the  con¬ 
ference  voted  not  to  sustain  the  chair — by  11  nays, 
5  yeas. 

This  action  was  reported  by  the  committee  on  con¬ 
ference  records,  of  the  general  conference  of  1878, 
as  a  violation  of  Discipline.  The  report  was  adopted, 
thus  sustaining  the  decision  of  the  president. 

408.  On  Past  Enactments,  Resolutions,  etc. — 
Resolved,  That  all  enactments,  decisions  and  resolu¬ 
tions  of  the  various  general  conferences,  that  are  in¬ 
consistent  with  our  Discipline,  as  revised  by  this  gen¬ 
eral  conference,  are  hereby  repealed. 

ft  409.  On  the  Membership  of  Probationers  in  An¬ 
nual  Conferences. — The  following  questions  were  an¬ 
swered  by  B.  T.  Roberts  at  the  Genesee  conference, 
1SS2: 

1.  Are  preachers  on  probation  in  an  annual  con¬ 
ference  still  members  of  a  society?  Answer,  No. 

2.  Should  they  be  reported  from  the  circuit  as 
local  preachers?  Answer,  No, 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


2G5 


3.  Should  their  licenses  be  renewed  by  the  quar¬ 
terly  conference,  as  others?  Answer,  No. 


From  Journal  of  1882 

ft  410.  Women  Eligible  as  Delegates. — B.  T.  Rob¬ 
erts  decided  at  the  New  York  conference  that  women 
are  eligible  to  election  as  delegates  to  the  annual 
conference.  Approved. 

ft  411.  The  following  questions  were  asked  and  an¬ 
swered: 

1.  If  a  preacher  believes  the  Bible  to  be  opposed 
to  women  taking  a  part  in  the  governmental  affairs  of 
the  church,  and  has  not  hitherto  regarded  the  language 
of  the  Discipline  as  admitting  of  the  election  of  women 
as  delegates  to  the  annual  conference  is  he  bound  by 
the  action  of  this  conference  to  rule  that  the  Dis¬ 
cipline  does  now  admit  of  it? 

Answer — By  President  B.  T.  Roberts:  It  is  my 
opinion  that  he  is. 

2.  Would  it  be  maladministration  of  Discipline  to 
rule  that  it  is  not  disciplinary  to  elect  women  as  dele¬ 
gates? 

Answer — In  my  opinion  it  would. 

The  general  conference  approved  these  answers  as 
correct. 

ft  412.  Absent  Delegates. — Resolved,  That  it  is  the 
sense  of  this  conference,  that  a  delegate  is  not  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  an  annual  or  a  general  conference  until  he  is 
present,  and  has  presented  his  credentials. 

ft  413.  Preserving  Original  Minutes. — Resolved, 
That  the  secretaries  of  the  several  conferences  be  re¬ 
quired  to  keep  the  original  or  so-called  rough  minutes, 
as  approved  by  the  conference,  in  a  book  to  be  pre¬ 
served  with  the  journal. 


26G 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


From  Journal  of  1886 

IT  4 1 4.  The  following  questions  were  asked  and  an¬ 
swered: 

1.  If  a  certificate  of  membership  be  given  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  one  of  our  churches,  and  that  member  shall,  at 
a  subsequent  time,  present  his  certificate  of  member¬ 
ship  to  one  of  our  churches  in  some  other  place,  he 
having,  since  the  reception  of  the  certificate,  been 
guilty  of  unchristian  conduct,  is  the  church  to  which 
the  certificate  shall  be  presented  obliged  to  receive 
the  certificate? 

Answer — By  President  B.  T.  Roberts:  It  is. 

2.  When  an  annual  conference  organizes  a  cir¬ 
cuit  and  appoints  a  preacher  to  it,  but  the  preacher 
declines  to  travel  it,  and  the  chairman  being  unable 
to  supply  it  with  another  preacher,  may  he  unite  the 
unsupplied  circuit  with  an  adjacent  circuit  without  the 
consent  of  the  official  board  of  the  unsupplied  circuit? 

Answer— By  President  B.  T.  Roberts:  I  think  he 
could  not. 

3.  When  a  preacher  has  been  appointed  to  a  cir¬ 
cuit,  has  the  chairman  a  right  to  appoint  said  preacher 
to  the  charge  of  another  circuit  while  he  retains 
charge  of  the  first? 

Answer — By  President  B.  T.  Roberts:  No.  He 
may  add  to  the  circuit,  but  cannot  appoint  a  preacher 
to  two  circuits  at  the  same  time. 

TT4I5.  The  following  question  was  asked  at  the 
sixteenth  session  of  the  Kansas  annual  conference, 
and  was  answered  by  President  B.  T.  Roberts;  from 
whose  decision  an  appeal  was  taken  to  the  general 
conference  of  1886,  by  which  the  decision  of  the  presi¬ 
dent  was  unanimously  sustained:  " 

If  a  man  in  his  sinful  state  be  divorced  from  his 
wife,  but  not  on  scriptural  grounds,  and  she  be  mar¬ 
ried  to  another  man,  after  which  the  divorced  man 

f 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


267 


becomes  converted  and  joins  the  church,  do  the  facts 
in  the  case  as  afore  stated  clear  him  in  the  eyes 
of  the  law,  the  eyes  of  God  and  the  eyes  of  our  Dis¬ 
cipline,  so  that  he  has  the  right  to  marry  again?  The 
president  decided  that  in  the  case  stated,  the  legal 
divorce  separates  the  man  from  his  wife  in  the  eyes 
of  the  law,  and  that  the  subsequent  marriage  of  the 
woman  separates  the  man  from  the  woman  in  a  scrip¬ 
tural  sense;  he  is  therefore  entitled  to  a  divorce  on 
scriptural  grounds;  but  as  he  cannot  obtain  it,  he 
is  in  the  sense  of  the  scripture  entitled  to  marry 
again. 

Tf  4 1 6.  Resolved,  That  the  reports  adopted  by  the 
annual  conference  should  be  kept  on  file  and  not 
recorded  in  the  journal,  except  the  financial  reports, 
and  such  as  may  be  recorded  by  order  of  the  annual 
conference. 

From  Journal  of  1890 

fl4l7.  Whereas,  Conflicting  decisions  by  the  gen¬ 
eral  superintendents  in  the  intervals  of  the  general 
conference  are  liable  to  make  divisions,  and  tend  to 
annoy  and  confuse  the  spirit  of  harmony  among  us, 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  when  one  of  the  general  superin¬ 
tendents  has  rendered  a  decision  on  any  point  of  law 
in  any  annual  conference,  in  a  case  which  grows  out  of 
the  conference  proceedings,  said  decision  shall  be  the 
rule  in  the  case  until  the  decision  is  reversed  by  the 
general  conference.  See  paragraph  439. 

From  Journal  of  1894 

fl4!8.  An  elder  of  the  North  Michigan  conference, 
having  withdrawn  from  the  church,  was  given  a  letter 
by  Superintendent  Hart,  stating  that  he  had  been  an 
srdained  elder  in  the  North  Michigan  conference,  and 
recommending  him  “to  all  Christian  people.”  He 


208 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


afterwards  presented  the  letter  to  the  same  confer¬ 
ence,  and  Superintendent  Coleman  decided  that  he 
could  not  be  received  on  the  letter — that  he  was  out 
of  the  church.  The  committee  on  general  superin¬ 
tendency  recommended  that  the  decision  be  approved. 
The  recommendation  was  adopted  by  the  conference. 

TT  4 1 9.  Law  Question. — “Can  the  appellate  court 
go  outside  of  the  grounds  of  appeal  as  submitted  to  it 
by  the  appellant?” 

Answer  by  the  Chair. — “In  the  decision,  I  would 
say,  It  must  confine  itself  to  the  grounds  of  the 
appeal  in  the  case.  It  is  entitled,  however,  to  all 
that  will  throw  light  upon  the  appeal  as  presented.” 

ft  420.  “Does  the  Discipline  make  final  the  de¬ 
cision  of  the  committee  on  appeals  without  approval 
by  the  general  conference  when  such  committee  ren¬ 
ders  its  verdict  while  the  general  conference  that  ap¬ 
pointed  it  is  in  session?” 

Answer — “The  Discipline  makes  the  decision  of  a 
committee  on  appeals  final.  There  can  be  no  appeal 
therefrom.” 

IT  42 1 .  At  the  close  of  the  election  of  the  general 
superintendents,  E.  P.  Hart  moved,  That  it  is  the 
sense  of  the  conference  that  W.  T.  Hogue  is  entitled 
to  his  seat  and  office  as  general  superintendent  until 
the  close  of  this  session.  Superintendent  Coleman  in 
the  chair  decided  that  it  would  be  proper  to  place  the 
newly-elected  superintendent  in  the  chair  if  the  con¬ 
ference  saw  fit  to  do  so.  An  appeal  was  taken  from 
the  decision,  and  the  conference  refused  to  sustain 
the  chair.  W.  T.  Hogue  was  thus  authorized  to  act 
as  superintendent  until  the  final  adjournment  of  the 
conference. 

ft  422.  Resolution. — In  response  to  a  memorial 
from  the  Southern  California  conference  in  regard  to 
the  wearing  of  neckties,  the  conference  adopted  the 
following: 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


269 


‘"It  is  the  sense  of  the  conference  that  this  matter 
is  one  concerning  which  ‘every  man  should  be  fully 
persuaded  in  his  own  mind,’  and  guided  by  his  per¬ 
sonal  convictions.” 

From  Journal  of  1898 

IT  423.  The  following  question  was  asked  at  the 
Susquehanna  conference  of  1S9T,  and  was  answered 
by  President  E.  P.  Hart,  from  whose  decision  an  ap¬ 
peal  was  taken  to  the  general  conference  of  1898: 

“Is  previous  labor  necessary  before  bringing 
charges  against  a  preacher  belonging  to  an  annual 
conference?” 

The  president  decided  that  no  previous  labor  is 
necessary  in  case  of  charges  at  the  annual  confer¬ 
ence,  as  that  body  has  original  jurisdiction  over  the 
preachers  composing  it. 

The  decision  of  the  president  was  sustained  by  the 
general  conference. 

fl  424.  The  following  questions  were  asked  at  the 
Kansas  conference  of  1S95,  and  were  answered  by 
the  president,  B.  R.  Jones.  An  appeal  was  taken  from 
his  decisions  to  the  general  conference  of  1898: 

1.  “If  a  man  obtains  a  divorce  from  his  wife  on 
other  than  scriptural  grounds  and  afterward  marries 
a  woman  who  had  obtained  a  divorce  from  her  hus¬ 
band  without  scriptural  reason,  would  the  parties  thus 
divorced  and  remarried  be  entitled  to  membership 
in  the  church?” 

Answer — I  think  they  would  not. 

2.  “Is  it  a  violation  of  Discipline  for  a  minister 
to  receive  a  person  into  the  church  who  has  obtained 
a  divorce  on  other  than  scriptural  grounds?” 

Answer — In  my  opinion  it  is. 

3.  “Would  the  preacher  receiving  into  the  church 
persons  thus  divorced  be  liable  to  the  charge  of  mal¬ 
administration  ?” 


270 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


Answer — I  think  he  would. 

These  decisions  wrere  approved  by  the  general  con¬ 
ference. 

425.  Resolved,  That  in  no  case  shall  the  report 
of  the  committee  on  ministerial  relations  be  expunged 
from  the  records  of  an  annual  conference  without  the 
consent  of  the  minister  whose  case  had  been  under 
consideration. 


Frcm  the  Journal  of  1907 

U  426.  Quarterly  Conference  Relation  of  Preacher 
Supplying  in  Conference  Other  Than  His  Own. — 
The  committee  on  examining  quarterly  conference 
records  presented  the  following  appeal  found  on  page 
3G5  of  the  Chicago  district  records,  Illinois  confer¬ 
ence,  reading  as  follows: 

•A  question  was  raised  as  to  whether  C.  B.  Ebey 
was  a  member  of  this  quarterly  conference.  The  dis¬ 
trict  elder  ruled  that  he  was,  by  virtue  of  his  being 
pastor  at  Melrose  Park.  An  appeal  was  taken  from 
this  ruling  by  W.  P.  Ferries. 

The  president,  Wilson  T.  Hogue,  decided  “that  no 
preacher  in  the  Free  Methodist  church  can  be  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  two  quarterly  conferences  at  the  same  time. 
As  C.  B.  Ebey  is  a  member  of  the  Southern  Cali¬ 
fornia  conference,  and,  as  such,  has  his  quarterly  con¬ 
ference  relation  fixed  within  that  body,  it  follows  that 
he  cannot  be  a  member  of  any  quarterly  conference 
of  the  Free  Methodist  church  except  his  own.”  De¬ 
cision  sustained. 

427.  Surrender  of  Parchments. — At  the  forty- 
fourth  session  of  the  Genesee  conference,  an  elder 
requested  a  certificate  of  withdrawal  from  the  confer¬ 
ence.  The  president,  B.  R.  Jones,  ruled  “that  he  was 
entitled  to  a  certificate  of  withdrawal  only  upon  con¬ 
dition  that  he  surrender  his  ordination  parchments.” 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


271 


Approved  by  committee  and  adopted  by  the  confer¬ 
ence. 

428.  Only  Annual  Conference  Empowered  to 
Render  a  Superannuate  Effective. — At  the  annual  ses¬ 
sion  of  the  Genesee  conference  held  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
September  5-9,  1906,  in  the  case  of  Rev.  William  Man¬ 
ning,  the  president,  W.  A.  Sellew,  in  answer  to  a 
question  raised,  decided  “that  the  appointment  of  a 
superannuated  preacher  to  a  circuit  on  a  charge  by 
the  district  elder,  according  to  the  Discipline,  and 
with  the  consent  and  cooperation  of  the  preacher, 
made  him  effective.  He  cannot  be  superannuated  and 
effective  at  the  same  time.  I  decide  that  he  has  been 
effective  during  the  past  year,  and  cannot  draw  his 
superannuated  allowance.”  Decision  disapproved. 

429.  Ruling  on  a  Question  of  Jurisdiction. — 
At  the  Oil  City  conference  in  1906  the  committee 
on  claimants  and  claims  submitted  the  following  reso¬ 
lution  in  case  of  Mrs.  H.  D.  W.  Showers  to  the  presi¬ 
dent  for  a  decision: 

Whereas,  The  application  of  Mrs.  H.  D.  W.  Show¬ 
ers,  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  A.  C.  Showers,  has  been 
presented  to  the  committee  on  claimants  and  claims; 
and, 

Whereas,  At  the  time  of  his  death  Brother  Showers 
was  a  member  of  the  Pittsburgh  conference,  and  the 
Oil  City  conference  did  not  exist;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  committee 
that  the  said  application  does  not  legally  come  before 
this  conference,  and  that  we  respectfully  ask  the  chair 
to  render  a  decision  upon  this  point. 

General  Superintendent  Walter  A.  Sellew  ruled 
“that  the  application  should  not  be  presented  to  this 
conference,  but  to  the  Pittsburgh  conference.”  De¬ 
cision  sustained. 

IT  430.  As  to  Right  of  Preacher  in  Charge  to  Vote 
in  Business  Meetings  of  the  Circuit. — At  the  session 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


of  the  West  Iowa  conference  held  in  1903  a  question 
was  raised  as  to  whether  a  preacher  in  charge  has  a 
right  to  vote  in  the  business  meetings  of  his  circuit. 
The  president,  E.  P.  Hart,  ruled  that  “he  has  a  right 
to  vote  in  the  official  meetings,  but  not  in  the  circuit 
or  society  meetings.”  Decision  sustained. 

IT  43  f .  Forfeiting  Conference  Relation  by  With¬ 
drawal. — The  Journal  of  the  Texas  Conference,  page 
236,  shows  that  the  name  of  M.  M.  Lowerys  was 
called,  and  he  was  reported  to  have  joined  the  Meth¬ 
odist  Episcopal  Church  South.  Since  doing  so,  how¬ 
ever,  he  had  again  united  with  the  Free  Methodist 
church,  by  letter. 

The  chair  ruled  that  in  uniting  with  another  church 
he  had  forfeited  his  relation  to  this  conference,  and 
that  it  would  be  necessary  for  him  to  come  up  by 
regular  process,  if  desirous  of  renewing  his  relation 
with  the  conference.  Decision  sustained. 

TT  432.  An  Elder  Withdrawn  from  Church  and  Con¬ 
ference  May  Not  Be  Received  Back  into  the  Confer¬ 
ence  on  His  Ordination  Parchments. — An  elder  in  the 
Illinois  conference,  who  had  withdrawn  from  the 
church  and  conference  and  united  with  an  organization 
not  giving  letters  of  dismissal,  and  who  had  since 
united  with  the  Free  Methodist  church  on  probation 
and  was  recommended  for  restoration  to  his  former 
conference  relation  on  his  ordination  parchments,  the 
question  v/as  asked  of  the  chair,  “Can  he  be  legally 
received  on  the  parchments  aforesaid?” 

The  president,  W.  A.  Sellew,  rendered  the  follow¬ 
ing  decision  in  the  case:  “If  this  elder  had  come  to 
us  with  a  regular  certificate  of  his  standing  as  a 
Christian  minister  from  the  church  organization  to 
which  he  has  belonged  since  he  left  us,  we  wTould  be 
warranted  in  receiving  him  into  full  membership  in  the 
conference,  as  he  holds  our  ordination  papers  as  an 
elder.  Now7,  as  he  cannot  obtain  such  a  certificate, 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


273 


because  of  the  refusal  of  this  organization  to  give 
such  certificates,  and  not  because  of  any  fault  or  fail¬ 
ure  of  conduct  on  his  part,  I  decide  he  may  be  re¬ 
ceived  into  full  membership  in  the  conference  on  his 
ordination  papers,  and  by  vote  of  this  conference 
adopting  the  resolution  now  before  the  conference.” 
Decision  disapproved. 

433.  On  Use  of  Instrumental  Music  in  Sunday- 
schools. — At  the  session  of  the  New  York  conference 
of  1903  the  question  was  asked  of  the  president,  B. 
R.  Jones:  “Is  it  a  violation  of  the  Discipline  of  the 
Free  Methodist  church  to  use  instrumental  music  in 
the  Sunday-schools  of  the  church-?”  The  president 
decided  that  it  is.  Decision  sustained. 

IT  434.  Transfer  of  Membership  by  Missionaries  to 
Africa. — The  committee  on  missions  recommends  the 
following:  “That  we  require  all  missionaries  now  on 
the  African  field,  or  who  may  go  to  that  field  in  the 
future,  to  transfer  their  church  membership  to  some 
society  on  that  field.”  Adopted. 

TT  435.  On  Reading  Reports  in  Annual  Confer¬ 
ence: 

Resolved,  That  in  the  presentation  of  the  reports 
from  the  circuits  at  the  annual  conferences  only  the 
items  classified  under  the  headings  “Numerical,” 
“Statistical”  and  “Church  Property,”  need  be  read, 
unless  other  items  are  ordered  read  by  the  confer¬ 
ence.  Resolution  adopted. 

ft  436.  On  referring  cases  to  the  committee  on 
ministerial  relations  it  was  resolved  as  follows:  “It 
is  the  sense  of  this  general  conference  that  the  char¬ 
acter  of  ministers  shall  not  be  referred  to  the  com¬ 
mittee  on  ministerial  relations,  except  in  case  of  re¬ 
ported  unsoundness  in  doctrine  or  irregularities  of 
life;  and  that  in  all  instances  where  the  case  is 
noticed  in  the  permanent  records,  such  records  shall 


274 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


show  the  nature  of  the  offense,  and  the  final  disposi¬ 
tion  of  the  case.” 

437.  Regarding  the  Excusing  of  Preachers  from 
Passing  in  the  Courses  of  Study  in  Full.-— The  follow¬ 
ing  resolution  originated  in  committee  on  superin¬ 
tendency,  and  was  adopted  by  the  conference: 

“Whereas,  We  find  numerous  instances  recorded 
in  various  conference  journals  where  persons  have 
been  received  on  trial  into  the  traveling  connection 
without  having  passed  examination  in  the  prelim¬ 
inary  course  of  study,  and  admitted  to  full  member¬ 
ship  and  elected  to  deacon’s  orders  without  having 
passed  examination  in  the  second  year’s  course  of 
study,  and  in  some  instances  of  persons  elected  to 
elder’s  orders  who  have  not  completed  the  fourth 
year’s  course  of  study;  and, 

“Whereas,  The  practise  referred  to  is  a  plain  vio¬ 
lation  of  the  Discipline,  paragraphs  150,  151,  155, 
156;  therefore, 

“Resolved,  First,  that  this  committee  recommend 
the  general  conference  to  express  its  disapproval  of 
such  action  on  the  part  of  the  conferences  involved, 
and  call  upon  them  to  discontinue  such  action  in  the 
future.  Second,  that  the  honored  bishops  be,  and 
that  they  hereby  are,  instructed  to  inform  all  confer¬ 
ences  where  such  action  may  be  proposed  in  the  fu¬ 
ture  that  the  contemplated  action  is  illegal.” 

438.  Right  of  an  Elder  Presiding  in  Conference 
by  Appointment  of  a  Bishop  to  Transfer  a  Preacher. 
— A  question  regarding  this  matter  arose,  and  on  mo¬ 
tion  it  was  decided  “that  an  elder  acting  as  presi¬ 
dent  of  an  annual  conference  by  appointment  of  a 
bishop,  has  authority  to  transfer  a  preacher  into  that 
conference  while  so  acting.” 

439.  On  Decisions  of  Bishops: 

Resolved,  That  whenever  a  bishop  shall  decide  up¬ 
on  a  point  of  law  in  an  annual  conference,  which  does 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


275 


not  grow  out  of  the  conference  proceedings,  he  shall 
immediately  report  the  same  to  the  other  bishops,  and 
secure  their  approval  or  disapproval  in  writing.  His 
decision  shall  not  be  binding  upon  the  other  bishops 
unless  they  are  notified  that  at  least  two  of  them 
have  approved  it  in  writing.  The  resolution  was 
adopted.  See  paragraph  417. 

440.  On  Inserting  Certain  Items  in  an  Appendix 
to  the  Discipline. — The  following  was  adopted: 

“Resolved,  That  the  editor,  or  editors,  of  the  Dis¬ 
cipline  be  instructed  to  place  as  an  Appendix  to  the 
Discipline  the  following  items:  Names  and  addresses 
of  all  of  the  general  conference  officers,  the  general 
conference  districts,  the  executive  committee,  the 
general  missionary  board,  the  board  of  conference 
claimants,  the  board  of  education,  the  board  of  church 
extension,  construction  of  law  by  the  general  confer¬ 
ence,  and  the  constitution  of  the  woman’s  foreign 
missionary  society.” 

<f[44(.  On  Woman’s  Auxiliary  Missionary  Board. 
— The  general  woman’s  foreign  missionary  society 
petitioned  the  general  conference  to  give  considera¬ 
tion  to  the  following: 

“Resolved,  First,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this  body 
that  there  should  be  a  woman’s  auxiliary  missionary 
board;  second,  that  the  executive  board  of  the  wo¬ 
man’s  foreign  missionary  society  should  be  such 
auxiliary  board,  before  whom  women  candidates  for 
the  foreign  field  shall  pass  first  examination.” 

This  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  missions, 
which  reported  as  follows:  “Your  committee  recom¬ 
mends  that  we  grant  the  foregoing  request,  and  that 
this  auxiliary  board  shall  consist  of  the  three  women 
members  of  the  general  conference  missionary  board 
and  such  others  of  the  general  officers  of  the  woman’s 
foreign  missionary  society  as  may  be  present  at  their 
annual  meeting.”  The  recommendation  was  adopted. 


276 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


From  the  Journal  of  1911 

ft  442.  At  the  session  of  the  New  York  conference, 
September  14,  1910,  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  made  the 
following  ruling: 

“The  committee  on  credentials  asked  the  chair  to 
rule  on  the  following  question: 

“If  a  majority  of  a  society  vote  to  move  to  a  new 
locality,  and  a  minority  part  does  not  wish  to  remove 
to  that  locality,  which  is  the  original  society,  the  one 
removing  to  the  new  locality  or  the  part  remaining 
in  the  original  place? 

“The  chair  ruled  that  the  majority  part,  moving 
to  the  new  location,  constituted  the  original  society.” 

Decision  approved. 

443.  At  the  Ohio  conference  of  1908,  the  follow¬ 
ing  ruling  was  rendered  by  Bishop  B.  R.  Jones: 

“A  lady  evangelist  having  been  recommended  by 
the  Toledo  district  quarterly  conference  as  being 
eligible  to  a  seat  in  the  annual  conference,  her  case 
was  considered;  but  she  being  only  a  supply  on  the 
circuit  of  which  her  husband  was  preacher  in  charge, 
the  president  of  the  conference  decided  that  she  was 
not  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  conference.” 

Decision  approved. 

444.  At  the  Central  Illinois  conference,  Bishop 
Sellew  presiding,  a  communication  was  received  from 
an  elder  stating:  “I  have  returned  to  my  old  confer¬ 
ence,  i.  e.,  the  Wisconsin.  The  Greenville  district 
sent  me  a  certificate  of  good  standing  about  a  year 
ago.  Upon  that  certificate  I  have  been  received  and 
given  work  by  the  Wisconsin  conference.” 

The  secretary  of  the  Greenville  district  stated  that 
the  above  certificate  was  issued  before  the  last  an¬ 
nual  conference. 

The  president  of  the  conference  ruled  that  the 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


277 


above  certificate  expired  at  the  time  of  the  last  ses¬ 
sion  of  the  conference  and  is  null  and  void. 

Decision  approved. 

445.  At  the  forty-ninth  annual  session  of  the 
Genesee  conference  held  at  Ransomville,  New  York, 
September  9-13,  1908,  Bishop  Walter  A.  Sellew  ren¬ 
dered  the  following  decision: 

Genesee  Conference,  a  Decision  of  Law  by  Bishop 
W.  A.  Sellew.-— The  committee  on  claimants  and 
claims  reported  through  the  president  that  the  ques¬ 
tion  had  arisen  as  to  how  many  years  should  be 
counted  as  “active  service,”  according  to  the  Disci¬ 
pline,  in  the  case  of  a  claimant  in  the  conference. 
The  president  was  asked  whether  the  six  years  that 
he  served  the  Orphanage  and  Home  at  Gerry,  New 
York,  as  manager,  and  the  four  years  that  he  served 
the  same  institution  as  financial  agent,  ten  years  in 
all,  should  be  counted  as  years  of  “active  service”  in 
estimating  such  claim. 

The  president,  W.  A.  Sellew,  decided  that  they 
were  not  to  be  counted,  for  the  reason  that  they 
were  years  in  which  he  served  the  said  institution  by 
a  business  contract  made  and  entered  into  each  year 
in  advance  of  the  annual  sitting  of  the  Genesee  con¬ 
ference.  That  the  Genesee  annual  conference  had 
nothing  to  do  with  that  contract,  either  in  making  of 
it  or  in  fixing  the  nature  of  service  required,  or  in 
fixing  the  compensation;  neither  did  the  conference  in 
any  way  examine  into  or  inquire  about  that  service, 
as  to  whether  it  was  satisfactory  or  not.  The  whole 
matter  was  a  business  proposition  entered  into  by  a 
conference  preacher  and  a  corporation. 

The  fact  that  the  name  of  the  claimant  appears  in 
the  appointments  of  said  conference  as  occupying 
such  a  position  only  shows  that  the  conference  per¬ 
mitted  him  to  retain  his  standing  in  the  conference 
after  the  contract  was  made,  but  such  permission 


278 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


does  not  constitute  sufficient  authority  for  counting 
those  years  so  spent  as  years  of  “active  service,”  ac¬ 
cording  to  Discipline. 

Decision  disapproved. 

If  446.  Regarding  the  President  of  an  Annual  Con¬ 
ference  Acting  on  the  Committee  on  Ministerial  Re¬ 
lations: 

Whereas,  It  has  occurred  in  some  instances  that  an 
annual  conference  has  elected  its  presiding  officer  to 
act  on  the  committee  on  ministerial  relations;  and, 

Whereas,  The  findings  of  such  a  committee  may 
call  for  the  appointment  of  a  trial  court,  at  which  the 
president  must  preside;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  conference 
that  the  election  of  a  bishop  on  the  committee  on 
ministerial  relations  in  an  annual  conference  is  ex¬ 
ceedingly  irregular,  and  for  the  bishop  to  act  in  such 
capacity  is  highly  improper. 

Adopted. 

447.  The  following  question  was  asked  F.  D. 
Brooke  while  presiding  at  the  Elgin  district  quarterly 
conference  in  1907 : 

“Is  a  person  appointed  by  an  annual  conference  as 
a  supply  on  a  circuit  the  preacher  in  charge  of  that 
circuit?” 

Answer.  “He  may  be.  Page  37,  paragraph  87,  of 
our  book  of  Discipline,  1903,  reads:  ‘A  preacher  may 
be  appointed  to  a  circuit  without  having  charge  of 
the  same;  in  such  cases  the  administration  of  the 
circuit  shall  devolve  upon  the  district  elder  and  the 
official  board.’  But  there  may  be  preachers  who  are 
members  of  other  conferences,  and  who  are  fully 
fitted  to  administer  circuits  to  which  they  may  be 
appointed  as  supplies.  It  is  my  opinion,  therefore, 
that  a  preacher  appointed  by  an  annual  conference 
to  a  circuit,  as  supply,  is  preacher  in  charge  of  that 
circuit,  unless  the  annual  conference  appointing  him 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


279 


shall  specify  in  making  such  appointment  that  the  ad¬ 
ministration  of  the  circuit  shall  be  fixed  as  provided 
for  in  the  paragraph  referred  to. 

“Freeborn  D.  Brooke,  District  Elder, 
“Elgin  district,  Illinois  conference.” 

“From  the  above  opinion  W.  C.  Willing  appealed, 

“George  H.  Behner,  Secretary.” 

The  president  of  the  Illinois  annual  conference 
rendered  the  following  decision: 

“I  approve  of  the  above  decision. 

“Walter  A'.  Sellew. 

“September  13,  1907.” 

Decision  approved. 

IT  448.  At  the  Kansas  conference,  August  27,  1909, 
an  appeal  from  the  Iola  district  was  taken  up.  Upon 
the  records  of  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  Iola 
district  the  following  appears  under  question  5,  pages 
115  and  116: 

The  name  of  Brother  -  was  called  and  it 

was  reported  that  he  had  been  working  with  the  Sal¬ 
vation  Army,  there  being  no  Free  Methodist  society 
where  he  lived  (Parsons,  Kansas) ;  also  that  he  had 
joined  the  Salvation  Army,  and  that  at  present  he 
wished  his  church  relation  to  remain  in  the  Free' 
Methodist  church. 

When  he  retired  the  district  elder  ruled  that  his 
joining  the  Salvation  Army  severed  his  connection 
with  the  Free  Methodist  church,  and  accordingly  de¬ 
cided  that  his  case  need  not  go  on  record. 

The  brother  appealed  from  said  decision  to  the  an¬ 
nual  conference  to  be  held  at  Solomon,  Kansas,  Aug¬ 
ust  25,  1909. 

The  bishop  (W.  A.  Sellew),  upon  hearing  the  ap¬ 
peal,  made  the  following  decision: 

(1)  “The  president  of  the  Kansas  annual  confer¬ 
ence  hereby  decides  that  the  Salvation  Army  is  a  reg¬ 
ular  church  organization  and  that  a  member  of  our 


280 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


church  who  joins  the  Salvation  Army  severs  his  con¬ 
nection  with  the  Free  Methodist  church.  The  deci¬ 
sion  of  the  district  elder  is  therefore  approved.” 

Decision  approved. 

(2)  “But  as  the  brother  joined  the  Army  under 
a  misapprehension,  and  now  expresses  a  desire  to  re¬ 
main  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist  church,  he 
should  be  given  a  reasonable  time  in  which  to  sever 
his  connection  with  the  Army.  If  he  does  so  he  may 
retain  his  membership  in  the  Free  Methodist  church.” 

Decision  disapproved. 

From  Journal  of  1915 

449.  Oil  City  conference.  Ruling  of  Bishop  W. 
A.  Sellew.  On  page  370  of  the  journal  is  the  follow¬ 
ing:  “June  B.  Horning,  having  been  recommended  by 
the  quarterly  conference  as  a  suitable  person  to  be 
received  on  trial  in  the  annual  conference,  was,  on 
motion,  received.” 

The  bishop  ruled  that  this  action  would  deprive  her 
of  her  seat  in  the  conference  held  under  11172  (4)  of 
the  Discipline. 

Decision  approved. 

ft  450.  South  Dakota  conference.  Ruling  of  B.  R. 
Jones.  Session  of  1913.  Journal,  page  270. 

“Winnie  Ashcraft’s  name  was  called  and  her  char¬ 
acter  passed.  She  had  a  standing  of  85  in  Bible  doc¬ 
trine.  On  motion,  she  was  discontinued  from  proba¬ 
tion,  Bishop  Jones  having  decided  that  those  women 
whose  home  duties  interfered  with  their  being  free  to 
take  any  appointment  were  not  eligible  for  reception 
on  trial  in  the  traveling  connection. 

Decision  sustained. 

IT  45 1 «  Oil  City  conference.  Ruling  of  Bishop  Wil¬ 
son  T.  Hogue.  Page  318  of  Journal.  The  secretary 
read  a  letter  from  T.  C.  Goodrich,  a  former  member 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


281 


of  the  conference,  requesting  a  certificate  of  stand¬ 
ing,  and  Bishop  Hogue  ruled  that  he  not  being  a 
member  of  the  church  his  request  could  not  be 
granted. 

Ruling  sustained. 

ft  452.  Southern  Oregon  conference.  Ruling  of 
Bishop  W.  T.  Hogue.  Records  of  1912,  p.  20. 

“The  following  communication  from  Bishop  W.  T. 
Hogue,  in  reply  to  a  communication  from  the  secre¬ 
tary  of  the  conference  in  regard  to  the  resignation 
of  District  Elder  B.  F.  Smalley  and  the  appointment 
of  W.  E.  Goode  as  elder,  was  accepted  as  the  deci¬ 
sion  of  the  conference: 

“  ‘Replying  to  yours  of  March  28th  would  say: 
Brother  Smalley  did  not  indicate  to  me  that  the  last 
quarterly  conference  had  been  held  or  I  should  have 
made  no  appointment,  inasmuch  as  any  appointment 
I  might  make  would  require  the  ratification  of  that 
body.  As  it  is,  the  conference  on  assembling  will 
have  to  elect  some  one  to  sit  on  the  stationing  com¬ 
mittee  in  Brother  Smalley’s  place.’  ” 

Decision  sustained. 

ft  453.  Susquehanna  conference.  Ruling  of  Bishop 
W.  A.  Sellew.  Conference  Journal,  pages  156,  157. 

“H.  L.  Crockett,  attorney  for  the  church,  notified 
Rev.  W.  B.  Roupe  that  the  charges  upon  which  he 
had  been  suspended  by  the  committee  would  be  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  annual  conference  at  its  next  session. 
Rev.  W.  B.  Roupe  then  notified  H.  L.  Crockett  as 
follows : 

“  ‘I  hereby  withdraw  from  the  Free  Methodist 
church  and  the  Susquehanna  conference.’ 

“H.  L.  Crockett  then  states  he  received  a  letter 
from  W.  B.  Roupe,  a  few  weeks  later  stating,  ‘Since 
I  have  become  able  to  make  this  defense  I  would  re¬ 
quest  that  you  destroy  the  letter  of  withdrawal  and 


282 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


go  on  with  the  trial,  unless  the  charges  are  with¬ 
drawn,  in  which  case  also  destroy  the  letter.’ 

“The  president  of  the  conference  stated  to  the  con¬ 
ference  that  it  was  their  prerogative  to  decide  wheth¬ 
er  they  would  accept  the  withdrawal  of  W.  B.  Roupe 
from  the  church  and  conference,  as  mentioned  above, 
or  would  permit  him  to  withdraw  it  as  requested  in 
the  second  communication  and  permit  the  trial  to 
go  on. 

“Pending  the  consideration  of  this  case,  the  ques¬ 
tion  was  raised,  Were  these  communications  from  W. 
B.  Roupe  to  be  considered  as  officially  received  by 
the  conference,  since  they  were  addressed  to  H.  L. 
Crockett,  attorney  for  the  church  in  the  case,  and 
not  addressed  to  the  secretary  or  some  official  of  the 
conference?  The  president  decided  that  they  were 
officially  received  by  the  conference. 

On  motion  the  conference  decided  to  accept  his 
withdrawal  from  the  church  and  conference  under 
charges,  as  stated  in  his  first  communication. 

O.  B.  Russell  who  had  been  requested  by  W.  B. 
Roupe  to  act  as  his  attorney,  took  an  appeal  to  the 
general  conference  from  the  ruling  of  the  president 
and  the  action  of  the  conference.” 

Decision  sustained. 

454.  New  York  conference.  Ruling  of  Bishop 
William  Pearce.  Page  153  of  the  Journal. 

“Upon  a  question  submitted  to  the  chair  for  de¬ 
cision,  i.  e.:  Whether  A.  G.  Miller  is  eligible  to  a  re- 
election  to  the  Wilkes-Barre  district,  having  served 
same  as  such  together  with  the  Windsor  district,  for 
two  years  successively,  and  then  independently  of 
said  Windsor  district  for  two  successive  years  more, 
making  four  consecutive  years  of  travel  as  district 
elder  over  both  districts.  Chair  decided  that  the  Dis¬ 
cipline  was  ‘incontrovertibly  plain’  on  this  point,  and 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


283 


hence  A.  G.  Miller  was  not  eligible  to  a  reelection  to 
the  Wilkes-Barre  district.” 

Ruling  approved. 

ft  455.  New  York  conference.  Ruling  of  Bishop 
W.  A.  Sellew.  Conference  Journal,  page  221. 

Following  a  motion  for  the  renewal  of  deaconess’ 
license  of  persons  who  were  also  evangelists  the  pres¬ 
ident  called  attention  to  paragraph  154,  and  stated 
that  in  his  opinion  persons  who  held  an  evangelist's 
license  were  not  entitled  to  deaconess’  license,  but 
because  some  had  been  granted  by  his  predecessors 
he  would  permit  the  motion  to  pass,  enter  his  protest 
and  refer  the  matter  to  the  forthcoming  general  con¬ 
ference. 

Opinion  expressed  by  the  bishop  approved. 

ft  456.  New  York  conference.  Ruling  by  Bishop 
W.  A.  Sellew.’  Pages  203,  204  of  Journal. 

“If  an  annual  circuit  meeting  has  met  and  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  annual  conference,  can  one  of  the 
points  on  the  circuit  be  set  aside  to  form  a  new  cir¬ 
cuit  and  a  delegate  be  elected  to  represent  said  cir¬ 
cuit?  In  which  case  what  is  the  standing  of  the  dele¬ 
gate  first  elected?” 

1.  The  district  elder  may  divide  the  circuit,  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  Discipline,  par.  140,  even  after  the 
annual  circuit  meeting  has  been  held  and  a  delegate 
has  been  elected. 

2.  If  the  circuit  is  so  divided,  the  delegate  first 
elected  represents  the  other  part  of  the  original  cir¬ 
cuit. 

Decision  sustained. 

ft  457.  Wabash,  conference.  Ruling  of  Bishop  B. 
R.  Jones.  In  conference  of  1914  the  following  ques¬ 
tion  was  asked  the  president: 

“Is  it  illegal  for  a  quarterly  conference  held  at  the 
close  of  the  conference  year  to  fix  time  or  place  for 
a  camp  meeting  to  be  held  the  coming  year?'’ 


284 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


Answer:  “Ordinarily  such  action  would  not  be  con¬ 
sidered  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Discipline,  but  conditions  sometimes  arise  which 
justify  such  action.” 

Decision  approved. 

ft  458.  North  Indiana  conference.  Ruling  by  Bish¬ 
op  B.  R.  Jones.  Records  of  1912,  page  113.  “The 
legality  of  the  election  of  Bert  Mellott,  a  lay  delegate 
of  the  newly-organized  circuit,  West  Side,  South 
Bend,  was  called  in  question.  The  chair  ruled  that, 
as  Monroe  Williams’  name  appeared  upon  both  cre¬ 
dentials  and  as  E.  J.  Bean  was  still  a  member  of 
South  Bend  class,  that  the  two  named  circuits  are 
only  one;  therefore,  B.  Mellott’s  election  as  delegate 
was  illegal.  B.  Mellott  retired.” 

Decision  approved. 

ft  459.  On  Placing  Name  of  Conference  on  Back 
of  Journal:  Resolved,  That  this  general  conference 
urge  all  the  annual  conferences  to  place  the  name  of 
the  conference  on  the  back  of  the  journal  for  the  con¬ 
venience  of  general  conference  examiners. 

From  Journal  of  1919 

J[  460.  At  a  session  of  the  Louisiana  conference 
the  following  question  was  asked  Bishop  W.  A.  Sel- 
lew: 

“If  a  person  having  been  recommended  by  the  dis¬ 
trict  quarterly  conference  of  which  he  is  a  member 
for  admission  on  trial,  and  the  same  person  is  rec¬ 
ommended  by  the  same  district  quarterly  conference 
for  local  deacon’s  orders,  could  such  a  person  at  the 
same  session  of  the  annual  conference  be  received 
on  trial  and  ordained  local  deacon?” 

The  president  ruled  as  follows:  “In  my  opinion, 
he  cannot,  because  as  soon  as  he  is  received  on  trial 
he  ceases  to  be  a  local  preacher.” 

Decision  approved. 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


285 


46 1 .  Decision  by  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  in  the 
Central  Illinois  conference: 

“The  facts  agreed  upon  in  the  case  are  as  follows: 
In  1915,  at  its  annual  session,  the  Kentucky  and  Ten¬ 
nessee  conference  granted  to  W.  It.  Garrison  a  certif¬ 
icate  of  his  good  standing  with  a  view  to  his  being 
transferred  to  the  Central  Illinois  conference.  At 
the  annual  session  of  the  Central  Illinois  conference, 
held  at  Cowden,  Illinois,  September  13-16,  1916,  this 
certificate  was  presented  to  the  conference  and  W.  R. 
Garrison  was  duly  received  into  the  conference  after 
having  been  transferred  by  Bishop  W.  T.  Hogue. 

“It  appears,  however,  that  the  Kentucky  and  Ten¬ 
nessee  conference  held  its  annual  session  for  1916  on 
the  same  week  as  Central  Illinois,  and  that  the  Ken¬ 
tucky  and  Tennessee  conference  was  in  session  at  the 
same  time  that  this  certificate  was  received  by  the 
Central  Illinois  conference. 

“This  fact  made  this  certificate  null  and  void,  and 
W.  R.  Garrison  was  actually  a  member  of  the  Ken¬ 
tucky  and  Tennessee  conference  at  the  time  he  was 
received  by  the  Central  Illinois  conference. 

“I,  therefore,  decide  that  the  transfer  made  by 
Bishop  Hogue  and  his  reception  by  the  Central  Illi¬ 
nois  conference  were  both  illegal,  and  that  W.  R. 
Garrison  is  not  a  member  of  this  conference  but  of 
the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.” 

Decision  disapproved. 

462.  Decision  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  in  the 
Oregon  conference.  The  case  was  substantially  as 
follows.  The  amount  assessed  for  conference  claim¬ 
ants  at  the  time  of  its  session  in  1915  was  45  cents  a 
member.  During  the  ensuing  conference  year  the 
executive  committee  increased  the  apportionment  to 
50  cents.  At  the  next  session  of  the  conference  in 
1916  the  question  was  raised  as  to  whether  the  con¬ 
ference  would  be  expected  to  pay  45  cents  or  50 


286 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


cents  a  member  for  the  year  just  closing.  The  presi¬ 
dent  rendered  the  following  decision: 

“In  my  opinion  onlj7  45  cents  can  be  assessed 
against  the  conference  this  year.” 

Decision  sustained. 

463.  Decision  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew,  at  the 
North  Michigan  conference  in  1915:  A  recommenda¬ 
tion  for  evangelist's  license  was  brought  before  the 
quarterly  conference  at  the  first  session  of  the  year, 
having  been  made  by  a  society  meeting  prior  to  the 
last  session  of  the  annual  conference.  There  was  a 
question  raised  as  to  the  legality  of  granting  the  li¬ 
cense.  The  district  elder  ruled  that  it  was  legal. 
The  case  was  appealed  to  the  annual  conference  to 
be  answered  by  the  bishop. 

The  president  decided  that  in  his  opinion  it  was 
legal,  as  it  was  acted  upon  by  the  first  session  of  the 
quarterly  conference  after  the  recommendation  was 
made  by  the  society. 

Decision  approved. 

464.  Decision  by  Bishop  W.  Pearce:  A  district 
elder  said,  “My  decision  in  case  of  a  preacher  going 
into  a  new  place  to  hold  meetings  and  to  raise  up  a 
Free  Methodist  society  is  that  he  should  not  use  an 
instrument  (or  instruments)  of  music.  That  it  would 
not  be  disciplinary  to  do  so,  and  would  result  in  di¬ 
version  and  failure.” 

The  bishop  ruled,  “It  would  not  be  advisable.”. 

Decision  approved. 

fi  465.  Decision  of  Bishop  W.  T.  Hogue  made  at 
the  Colorado  conference  in  1916. 

The  question  of  granting  a  quarterly  conference 
evangelist's  license  to  Mrs.  Rose  Cooper  was  re¬ 
jected  by  the  Pueblo  district  quarterly  conference  on 
the  grounds  taken  by  the  district  elder  that  she  was 
not  present  and  had  not  brought  up  her  course  of 
studies. 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


287 


The  president  ruled  that  under  the  circumstances, 
and  inasmuch  as  Mrs.  Rose  Cooper  was  an  efficient 
missionary  among  us,  the  license  could  have  been 
granted. 

Decision  approved. 

ft  466.  Decision  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  on  the 
validity  of  an  evangelist’s  license. 

A  sister  with  an  annual  conference  evangelist's  li¬ 
cense  verbally  withdrew  from  the  church.  The  official 
board  finally  at  a  second  (not  verbal  but  written) 
announcement  of  withdrawal,  accepted  it.  Afterward 
she  requested  to  be  again  received  into  the  church 
and  accordingly  her  request  was  granted  in  harmony 
with  paragraph  78  of  the  Discipline.  Does  this  ac¬ 
tion  include  reinstatement  as  an  annual  conference 
licensed  evangelist?” 

The  president  decided  that  the  restoration  of  her 
membership  by  the  official  board  did  not  apply  to  her 
evangelist’s  license  which  could  only  be  granted  by 
the  quarterly  conference. 

Decision  approved. 

ft  467.  Decision  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  in  the 
Southern  California  conference.  Records  of  1917. 

At  the  third  sitting,  Edward  K.  Inaba,  lay  delegate 
from  the  Port  Los  Angeles  work,  handed  in  his  cre¬ 
dential  and  took  a  seat  in  the  conference. 

At  the  fourth  sitting,  Edward  K.  Inaba,  having 
been  recommended  by  the  Los  Angeles  district  quar¬ 
terly  conference  as  a  suitable  person  to  be  received 
on  trial  and  the  committee  on  the  preliminary  course 
of  study  having  reported  that  he  had  passed  a  satis¬ 
factory  examination,  on  motion,  he  was  received  on 
trial. 

At  the  fifth  sitting,  the  president  ruled  that  since 
Edward  K.  Inaba  had  been  received  on  trial,  in  har¬ 
mony  with  the  Discipline,  his  relation  as  lay  delegate 


288 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


has  automatically  ceased.  His  name  was  therefore 
stricken  from  the  roll. 

Ruling  disapproved. 

If  468.  Report  of  Committee  on  Judiciary. 

“If  a  conference  minister  fails  to  use  his  certif¬ 
icate  of  good  standing  and  general  acceptability,  giv¬ 
en  with  a  view  to  transfer,  when  does  the  life  of  said 
certificate  cease? 

“Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  committee 
that  the  life  of  such  certificate  ceases  at  the  calling 
of  the  roll  at  the  first  sitting  of  the  ensuing  session 
of  the  annual  conference  giving  it. 

“Also,  that  such  a  certificate  given  by  a  quarterly 
conference  expires  at  the  calling  of  the  roll  at  the 
first  sitting  of  the  ensuing  session  of  the  annual  con¬ 
ference  within  whose  bounds  the  quarterly  conference 
is  located.” 

Report  adopted. 

|f  469.  Report  of  Committee  on  Judiciary: 

“If  a  minister  shall  present  a  certificate  of  good 
standing  and  general  acceptability  to  an  annual  con¬ 
ference,  and  be  transferred  to  said  conference  by  the 
presiding  bishop,  such  transfer  having  been  made 
after  the  conference  granting  said  certificate  had  con¬ 
vened  in  its  next  annual  session  following  the  session 
in  which  the  certificate  was  given;  where  does  such 
preacher  hold  his  membership? 

“Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  committee 
that  the  transfer  was  legal,  and  the  membership  of 
said  preacher  is  in  the  conference  to  which  the  trans¬ 
fer  has  been  made.” 

Report  adopted. 

|f  470.  The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

“Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  conference 
that  forcing  a  workman  to  join  the  union  or  leave  his 
job  constitutes  coercion.” 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


289 


From  Journal  of  1923 

ft  471.  Decision  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  in  the 
Kansas  conference.  The  following  -was  taken  from 
the  records  of  the  Wichita  district  quarterly  confer¬ 
ence: 

“On  a  complaint  from  the  Wichita  charge  in  re¬ 
gard  to  the  division  of  the  circuit,  and  since  there 
seems  to  be  a  discrepancy  between  the  constitution 
of  the  Mission  of  Redeeming  Love  and  paragraph 
1G0,  section  11,  of  the  Discipline  on  that  point,  we 
the  quarterly  conference  of  the  Wichita  district,  ap¬ 
peal  to  the  bishop  of  the  conference  for  a  decision 
on  this  action.” 

The  bishop’s  ruling  follows:  “I  decide,  1.  That  it 
was  a  violation  of  the  Discipline  for  the  district  elder 
to  divide  the  Wichita  circuit  without  the  consent  of 
the  preacher  in  charge  and  the  official  board.  The 
Discipline,  paragraph  160,  section  11,  must  take 
precedence  over  the  constitution  of  the  Mission  of 
Redeeming  Love,  even  though  the  latter  may  have 
been  approved  by  action  of  the  general  conference. 
2.  That  the  society  formed  as  the  Mission  Society 
is  still  a  regular  society  and  cannot  be  dissolved  ex¬ 
cept  as  provided  for  in  the  Discipline.” 

The  decisions  of  the  bishop  were  approved. 

472.  Ruling  of  Bishop  W.  H.  Clark  in  the  New 
York  conference. 

After  reading  in  open  conference  paragraphs  24. 
25,  26,  27,  28  and  29  of  the  Digest  of  Free  Methodist 
Law,  and  after  a  statement  that  in  the  church  rec¬ 
ord  of  the  society  he  was  about  to  leave,  a  preacher 
had  made  the  notation  opposite  the  name  of  his  wife, 
“transferred  to  another  circuit,”  but  had  not  given 
a  church  letter,  the  following  questions  of  law  were 
asked  of  the  president  of  the  conference: 

Question  1.  As  no  church  letter  was  given,  does 


290 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


not  the  membership  of  said  person  remain  in  said 
circuit,  notwithstanding  said  notation? 

Question  2.  Is  not  said  person  amenable  to  said 
circuit  for  her  conduct,  notwithstanding  said  nota¬ 
tion  ? 

The  bishop’s  answer  to  both  questions  was,  “Yes.” 

Decisions  approved. 

ft  473.  Ruling  by  Bishop  D.  S.  Warner  in  the  New 
York  conference. 

The  following  question  was  submitted  to  the  pres¬ 
ident  for  decision:  Can  a  quarterly  conference  legal¬ 
ly  adjourn  at  its  second  sitting  to  meet  in  its  third 
sitting  in  another  place,  several  miles  distant,  and 
after  an  interval  of  nearly  three  weeks? 

The  decision  was,  “Yes.” 

Decision  approved. 

ft473(/2-  Decision  of  Bishop  D.  S.  Warner  in  the 
Illinois  conference. 

An  appeal  taken  by  W.  J.  Bone,  from  the  decision 
of  District  Elder  F.  D.  Brooke,  of  the  Chicago  dis¬ 
trict,  as  to  the  eligibility  of  Sadie  Hill  to  a  seat  in 
the  annual  conference. 

The  district  elder  ruled  that  she  was  not  eligible 
to  a  seat  in  the  annual  conference  while  on  trial  in 
that  body.  The  bishop  sustained  the  ruling  of  the 
district  elder. 

Decision  of  the  bishop  approved. 

ft  474.  Ruling  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  in  the 
Southern  Oregon  conference. 

Question  1.  If  a  pastor  appointed  to  a  circuit  de¬ 
clines  to  occupy  the  parsonage,  has  he  the  right  to 
rent  the  parsonage  to  other  parties  without  the  con¬ 
sent  of  the  official  board? 

Answer:  “I  think  not.” 

Question  2.  If  a  preacher  appointed  to  a  circuit 
declines  to  occupy  the  parsonage,  has  the  official 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


291 


board  the  right  to  rent  the  parsonage  without  the 
consent  of  the  preacher  in  charge? 

Answer:  “I  think  they  have.” 

Question  3.  If  the  official  board  rents  the  parson¬ 
age  to  other  parties,  has  the  preacher  in  charge  the 
right  to  demand,  and  is  the  official  board  under  obli¬ 
gation  to  pay,  said  rent  to  the  preacher  in  charge? 

Answer:  “I  think  he  is  entitled  to  the  rent.” 

All  three  decisions  approved. 

475.  Ruling  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  in  the 
Louisiana  conference. 

The  following  question  of  law  was  submitted  to  the 
chair  by  J.  M.  Manchester:  “Is  it  a  violation  of  our 
rule  on  dress,  according  to  our  book  of  Discipline, 
for  persons  who  are  members  of  the  Free  Methodist 
church  to  wear  feathers  and  artificial  flowers  on  their 
hats?” 

Answer:  “In  my  opinion,  it  is.” 

Decision  approved. 

476.  Ruling  of  Bishop  W.  A.  Sellew  in  the  East 
Texas  conference. 

The  president’s  decision  in  the  case  of  L.  V. 
Maund:  1.  The  last  annual  conference  imposed  a  pen¬ 
alty  upon  him,  resulting  from  a  bill  of  charges,  of 
suspension  from  the  ministry  and  from  the  church 
for  two  years.  In  my  opinion  the  conference  went 
beyond  its  authority  in  doing  so,  as  suspension  of  a 
minister  can  only  be  for  one  conference  year.  I  de¬ 
cide  that  he  has  served  out  the  time  of  suspension 
and  is  now  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  conference. 

2.  As  his  case  has  now  been  referred  to  a  commit¬ 
tee  on  ministerial  relations  by  the  conference,  I  de¬ 
cide  that  the  committee  cannot  consider  anything  con¬ 
tained  in  the  bill  of  charges  upon  which  he  was  sus¬ 
pended  at  the  last  conference. 

Both  decisions  approyed. 


292 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OF  LAW 


477.  Ruling  by  Bishop  D.  S.  Warner  in  the 
Southern  Oregon  conference. 

The  following  questions  were  asked  and  answered 
by  the  president,  from  whose  decision  an  appeal  was 
taken  to  the  answer  on  question  1. 

Question  1.  In  forming  a  new  society  does  para¬ 
graph  77  of  the  Discipline  provide  for  receiving  into 
the  church  as  full  members  persons  who  have  had  no 
previous  connection  with  any  church  or  religious  so¬ 
ciety  nor  have  served  on  six  months’  probation? 

Answer:  It  is  my  understanding  that  paragraph 
77  provides  for  receiving  members  in  such  manner  in 
organizing  a  new  society. 

Question  2.  Would  it  be  a  violation  of  paragraph 
75  of  the  Discipline  to  receive  members  into  the 
church  in  full  connection  who  have  not  been  on  pro¬ 
bation  or  connected  with  any  church  or  religious  so¬ 
ciety  or  organization? 

Answer:  Yes. 

Question  3.  Would  a  preacher  receiving  members 
in  such  a  manner  be  deemed  guilty  of  maladministra¬ 
tion  of  the  Discipline? 

Answer:  l"es. 

All  three  decisions  sustained. 

fl  478.  Ruling  of  Bishop  D.  S.  Warner  in  the 
Southern  California  conference. 

It  wras  stated  that  the  Bethel  society  had  voted 
their  intention  to  transfer  in  a  body  to  the  Ontario 
society  at  a  future  date,  if  permitted  to  sell  their 
church  property  and  take  it  with  them  as  a  part  of 
a  church  building  fund  in  Ontario,  and  requested  per¬ 
mission  of  the  conference  to  do  so.  It  was  moved 
and  seconded,  that  the  request  be  granted.  It  was 
moved  and  seconded,  as  a  substitute,  that  $300.00  of 
the  proceeds  be  appropriated  to  the  Chino  society. 
After  some  discussion  the  previous  question  was 
moved  and  seconded.  Pending  this  a  point  of  order 


CONSTRUCTIONS  OP  LAW 


293 


was  raised  on  the  substitute.  The  president  made 
the  following  ruling: 

“Inasmuch  as  there  is  not  at  this  time  a  bona  fide 
sale  of  the  property,  and  it  appears  there  will  be  no 
sale  of  the  property  unless  the  proceeds  of  said  sale 
may  be  taken  to  assist  in  building  a  church  in  On¬ 
tario,  therefore  the  substitute  motion  is  out  of  order.” 

An  appeal  was  taken  from  the  ruling  of  the  chair. 

Decision  approved. 

f[  479.  Ruling  of  Bishop  W.  Pearce  in  the  Ohio 
conference. 

A  resolution  was  introduced  recommending  that 
those  districts  of  the  conference  which  are  served  by 
one  elder,  where  there  is  no  district  elder's  home, 
take  steps  to  secure  additional  elders’  homes  at  suit¬ 
able  locations,  and  until  this  is  done  recommending 
that  rent  be  raised  for  elders’  homes  separate  from 
elders’  salaries. 

The  chair  ruled  that  it  is  not  in  the  province  of  the 
annual  conference  to  recommend  that  a  district  or 
districts  which  do  not  have  a  district  elder’s  home 
should  provide  the  same  or  in  lieu  thereof  pay  the 
rent  for  a  district  elder's  home. 

Decision  sustained. 

If  480.  Whereas,  A  member  who  is  accused  of  un¬ 
christian  conduct  is  suspended  from  all  offices  pend¬ 
ing  the  outcome  of  the  trial;  be  it 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  general  con¬ 
ference  that  conviction  of  unchristian  conduct  would 
continue  the  suspension  from  said  offices. 

f|48l.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  gen¬ 
eral  conference  that  it  is  the  inalienable  right  of  any 
annual  conference,  district  quarterly  conference, 
church  society,  or  individual  member  of  the  Free 
Methodist  church,  to  submit  protests,  petitions  or  me¬ 
morials  to  the  general  conference  and  to  have  them 
fully  heard  by  the  general  conference. 


CHAPTER  V 


TT  482.  THE  GENERAL  WOMAN’S  MISSIONARY 

SOCIETY 

Constitution 

ARTICLE  I 

This  organization  shall  be  known  as  the  General 
Society  of  the  Woman’s  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Free  Methodist  Church  of  North  America,  auxiliary 
to  the  General  Missionary  Board  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church. 


ARTICLE  II 

The  object  of  this  organization  shall  be  to  secure 
systematic  contributions  for  home  and  foreign  mis¬ 
sions,  to  disseminate  missionary  intelligence  and  to 
encourage  missionary  effort  in  the  Free  Methodist 
church. 


ARTICLE  III 

1.  The  general  society  shall  be  composed  of  the 
general  officers,  its  representatives  on  the  general 
missionary  board,  and  one  delegate  from  each  confer¬ 
ence,  and  an  additional  delegate  from  each  conference 
having  over  seven  hundred  active  members. 

2.  The  president  of  this  society  shall  be  an  ex- 
officio  member  of  the  general  missionary  board. 

3.  The  delegates  are  to  be  elected  by  their  re¬ 
spective  conference  societies  at  their  annual  session, 
immediately  preceding  the  session  of  this  society. 


294 


CONSTITUTION 


295 


4.  No  person  shall  be  elected  as  delegate  to  this 
society  who  is  not  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist 
church,  and  an  active  member  of  the  woman’s  mis¬ 
sionary  society. 

5.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  election  as  a 
delegate  to  this  society  who  is  a  delegate  or  reserve 
delegate  to  the  general  conference  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church. 

ARTICLE  IV 

The  meetings  of  this  society  shall  be  held  quad¬ 
rennially  at  the  time  and  place  of  the  general  con¬ 
ference  of  the  church,  when  a  report  of  its  operations, 
conditions  and  prospects  shall  be  presented.  An  elec¬ 
tion  by  ballot  of  general  officers  and  representatives 
on  the  general  missionary  board  shall  be  held  at  that 
time. 

ARTICLE  V 

1.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  be  a  president, 
two  vice-presidents,  corresponding  secretary,  record¬ 
ing  secretary,  treasurer,  home  missions  secretary,  ed¬ 
itor  of  Missionary  Tidings,  and  superintendent  of 
young  people’s  societies,  and  superintendent  of  junior 
societies. 

2.  A  nominating  committee  may  be  chosen  to  sub¬ 
mit  nominations  to  the  society. 

ARTICLE  VI 

No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  office  in  this  society 
who  is  not  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist  church, 
and  an  active  member  of  the  woman’s  missionary  so¬ 
ciety. 

ARTICLE  VII 

The  general  officers  together  with  the  representa¬ 
tives  on  the  general  missionary  board  shall  consti¬ 
tute  a  general  executive  committee  who  shall  admin¬ 
ister  the  affairs  of  the  organization  and  have  full 


296 


CONSTITUTION 


power  to  transact  business  in  the  intervals  of  the 
quadrennial  meetings.  Five  of  these  officers  shall 
constitute  a  quorum. 

ARTICLE  VIII 

The  general  executive  committee  shall  meet  an¬ 
nually  at  the  time  and  place  of  the  meeting  of  the 
general  missionary  board. 

ARTICLE  IX 

The  executive  committee  shall  elect  (a)  A  mission 
study  secretary,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  promote 
mission  study;  (b)  a  superintendent  of  foreign  boxes, 
who  shall  have  general  charge  of  that  work;  (c)  a 
literature  agent,  who  shall  supervise  the  work  of  that 
department;  all  of  whom  shall  report  annually  to  the 
executive  committee. 

ARTICLE  X 

There  shall  be  an  advisory  board  of  three  mem¬ 
bers,  elected  by  this  society. 

ARTICLE  XI 

No  methods  of  raising  money  or  of  conducting 
meetings  shall  be  adopted  by  this  society  which  are 
not  in  harmony  with  the  Discipline  of  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  church. 


ARTICLE  XII 

*  Five  per  cent  of  the  funds  of  this  society  shall  be 
reserved  as  a  contingent  fund  and  deposited  in  a  sav¬ 
ings  bank. 

ARTICLE  XIII 

1.  A  home  missions  meeting  shall  be  held  quar¬ 
terly  in  each  local  society,  and  an  offering  taken 
which  shall  be  forwarded  through  the  regular  chan- 


CONSTITUTION 


297 


nels  to  the  general  treasurer  of  the  woman’s  mission¬ 
ary  society. 

2.  The  total  amount  raised  annually  in  each  so¬ 
ciety  for  home  missions  should  average  at  least  one 
dollar  for  each  member.  All  such  money,  sent  to  the 
treasurer,  shall  be  kept  as  a  separate  fund. 

3.  Any  local  woman’s  missionary  society  desiring 
to  do  other  home  missionary  work,  may  do  so  by 
using  money  raised  for  that  purpose,  such  work  to 
be  reported  to  the  home  missions  secretary  as  home 
benevolences. 

4.  Home  missions  week  shall  be  observed  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  the  plan  of  the  General  Home  Missions 
Council. 

5.  Thank  offering  boxes  shall  be  used  for  raising 
home  mission  funds,  which  shall  be  in  addition  to  the 
one  dollar  a  member,  and  shall  be  reported  as  a  sep¬ 
arate  fund.  The  thank  offering  boxes  shall  be  opened 
twice  each  year,  during  home  mission  week  and  dur¬ 
ing  the  month  of  May. 

ARTICLE  XIV 

This  constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  at 
any  quadrennial  meeting  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  those 
present:  and  voting. 


CHAPTER  VI 


IT  483.  FORMS 

APPLICATION  FOR  PERMISSION  TO  SELL  OR  MORTGAGE 
CHURCH  PROPERTY  OF  THE  FREE  METHODIST 

CHURCH 

Name  of  Circuit . 


.  .  Dis  rict 
Conference 


Questions  to  Be  Answered 

1.  Has  the  society  given  authority  to  the  trustees 

to  sell  or  mortgage  the  property? . 

2.  What  are  the  reasons  for  selling  or  mort¬ 
gaging?  . 


3.  What  disposition  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale 
or  mortgage  is  intended? . 


4.  Is  the  title  a  warranty  deed? .  If  not, 

what  is  the  character  of  the  title? . 


5.  Is  the  property  deeded  “to  the  society  in  its 

corporate  name,”  or  to  individual  trustees?  (See 
paragraph  237.)  . 

6.  Does  the  deed  contain  the  following  trust 

clause:  “In  trust  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 

membership  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  of  North 
America,  etc.”?  See  paragraph  238. . . . . . 


298 


FORMS 


299 


7.  Is  there  a  reverting  clause  in  the  title? . 

8.  Give  the  names  of  the  trustees  and  their  ad¬ 
dresses  . 


9.  Give  description  of  the  property  to  be  sold  or 
mortgaged.  Number  of  lots  or  acres  of  ground; 
character  of  buildings,  frame,  stone  or  brick;  size; 
condition,  good  or  bad . 


10.  Give  legal  description  of  property  to  be  sold 

or  mortgaged  . 

11.  Estimated  value  . 

12.  What  amount  is  expected  to  be  realized  by 

the  sale  or  mortgage? . 


13.  What  provisions  have  been  made  for  suitable 
accommodations  for  the  Sunday-school? 

*14.  I  approve  of  the  sale,  mortgage  as  proposed. 


Address 


Preacher  in  Charge 


Address 


District  Elder 


Address 


Sec.  of  Official  Board 


*  Cross  off  “sale”  or  “mortgage”  as  the  case  may  re¬ 
quire. 


300 


FORMS 


CONSENT  TO  SALE  OF  CHURCH  PROPERTY 

The  Trustees  of  the  General  Conference  of  the 
Free  Methodist  Church  of  North  America,  incorpor¬ 
ated  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  being  the  legal  represen¬ 
tative  body  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  (denomina¬ 
tion),  for  a  valuable  consideration  received  from 
. .  the  receipt  of  which  is  hereby  ac¬ 
knowledged,  do  hereby  release  all  right,  title,  interest, 
or  claim  that  they  may  have  in  or  to  the  property 
described  below  by  reason  of  any  trust  clause  that 
may  be  in  the  deed  of  said  property. 

Description: 


They  also  hereby  give  their  consent  to  the  trustees’ 
selling  said  property  and  giving  proper  deed  for  same. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  corporation  has  caused 
this  instrument  to  be  signed  by  the  secretary  of  its 
executive  committee,  and  sealed  with  its  corporate 
seal  this . day  of . ,  19.... 


State  of . 

ss. 

County  of . 

On  the . day  of . ,  in  the  year 

one  thousand  nine  hundred  and . .  .,  before  me 

personally  came . .  to  me  known,  who, 

being  duly  sworn,  did  depose  and  say  that  he  is  the 
secretary  of  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Conference 
of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  of  North  America,  the 
corporation  described  in  and  which  executed  the 
above  instrument;  that  he  knew  the  corporate  seal  of 


FORMS 


301 


said  corporation;  that  the  seal  affixed  to  said  instru¬ 
ment  was  such  corporate  seal;  that  it  was  so  affixed 
by  order  of  the  trustees  of  said  corporation,  and 
that  he  signed  his  name  thereto  by  like  order. 


RECOMMENDATION  FOR  EXHORTER’S  LICENSE 

This  certifies  that  .  is  hereby  recommended 

by  the  Free  Methodist  Society  at  . .  of  which 

he  is  a  member,  as  a  suitable  person  to  receive 

Exhorter’s  License  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

.Done  at  a  Society  Meeting  held  at  . .  on 

the . day  of . .  19. . . . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


EXHORTER’S  LICENSE 

This  certifies  that  .  is  authorized  to  offi¬ 

ciate  as  an  Exhorter  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church 

for  one  year,  provided  his  spirit  and  practise  are 
such  as  become  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  his  teach¬ 
ings  correspond  with  the  established  doctrines  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  as  held  by  said  church. 

Done  by  order  of  the  Official  Board  of  the . 

Circuit,  . Conference. 

Done  at . .  this . day  of . .  19. .  .  . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


RENEWAL  OF  AN  EXHORTER’S  LICENSE 

The  license  of  .  as  an  Exhorter  in  the  Free 

Methodist  Church  is  hereby  renewed  for  one  year, 
subject  to  the  requirements  of  the  Discipline. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Official  Board  of  . 


302 


FORMS 


charge,  of  the  . District,  of  the . 

Annual  Conference,  this  .  day  of  . 

19. . . . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


RECOMMENDATION  FOR  LICENSE  TO  PREACH 

We,  the  members  of  the  Official  Board  of  . 

charge,  .  District,  hereby  recommend 

.  as  a  suitable  person  to  be  licensed  as  a 

Local  Preacher  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

Done  at  an  Official  Board  meeting  held  at . 

this . day  of . .  19.  . .  .,  and  by  order 

and  on  behalf  of  said  Official  Board. 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


LOCAL  PREACHER’S  LICENSE 

This  certifies  that  .  is  authorized  to  officiate 

as  a  Local  Preacher  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church 

for  one  year,  provided  his  spirit  and  practise  are  such 
as  become  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  his  teachings  cor¬ 
respond  with  the  established  doctrines  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  as  held  by  said  Church. 

By  order  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the . 

District, . Conference. 

Done  at . .  this . day  of . . 

19. .  . . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


RENEWAL  OF  LOCAL  PREACHER’S  LICENSE 

This  certifies  that  the  license  of  .  as  a 

Local  Preacher  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church  is 


FORMS 


303 


hereby  renewed  for  one  year,  subject  to  the  require¬ 
ments  of  the  Discipline. 

Done  by  order  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of 

.  District,  . Annual  Conference,  in 

session  at  . ,  this  .  day  of  . . 

19 ... . 

. President. 

. .  .T . Secretary. 


RECOMMENDATION  FOR  ORDERS 

1 

This  certifies  that  .  is  hereby  recommended 

by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  .  District 

to  the  .  Annual  Conference  as  a  proper 

person  to  be  ordained  .  according  to  the 

provisions  of  the  Discipline,  he  having  served  for 
four  consecutive  years  as  a  local  preacher  (or 
deacon). 

Done  by  order  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of 
.  District,  this  .  day  of  . . 

19. . . . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


RECOMMENDATION  FOR  ADMISSION  TO  ANNUAL 
CONFERENCE 

This  certifies  that  . .  a  local  preacher,  and 

member  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of .  Dis¬ 

trict,  is  hereby  recommended  as  a  suitable  person 
to  be  admitted  on  probation  in  the  traveling  connec¬ 
tion  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

Done  by  order  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of 

.  District,  .  Annual  Conference,  in 

session  at  . ,  this  .  day  of  . , 

19.... 


Secretary. 


President. 


304 


FORMS 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCE  CERTIFICATE-ADMISSION  ON 

TRIAL 

This  is  to  certify  that  Rev . .  the  bearer, 

a  regularly  licensed  local  preacher,  has  this  day 

been  received  into  the  .  Annual  Conference 

of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  as  a  traveling  preacher 
on  trial,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to  act  in  that 
capacity  according  to  the  Discipline  of  said  Church, 
provided  his  spirit  and  practise  are  such  as  become 
the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  his  teachings  correspond 
with  the  established  doctrines  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
as  held  by  said  Church. 

Done  at  its  annual  session,  held  at  . .  the 

.  day  of  . ,  19 .  .  .  . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCE  CERTIFICATE - ADMISSION  ON 

TRIAL 

This  is  to  certify  that  . .  the  bearer, 

a  regularly  licensed  evangelist,  has  this  day  been  re¬ 
ceived  into  the  . Annual  Conference  of  the 

Free  Methodist  Church  as  a  traveling  preacher  on 
trial,  and  ....  is  hereby  authorized  to  act  in  that 
capacity  according  to  the  Discipline  of  said  church, 
provided  ....  spirit  and  practise  are  such  as  become 
the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  ....  teachings  correspond 
with  the  established  doctrines  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
as  held  by  said  church. 

Done  at  its  annual  session,  held  at  . .  the 

. day  of . .  19 ...  . 


Secretary. 


President. 


FORMS 


305 


CERTIFICATE  OF  STANDING 

This  certifies  that . ,  an  ordained . . 

is  in  good  standing  and  of  general  acceptability  in 

the . Conference  of  the  Free  Methodist 

Church,  and  is  granted  this  certificate  with  a  view  of 
being  transferred  to  the . . Conference. 

Done  by  the  said . Conference  at . 

the . day  of . ,  19.  .  . 

. President. 


.  Secretary. 

[The  following  must  be  filled  out  by  one  of  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Superintendents  before  it  is  received.] 

I  herebjr  transfer . to  the . Con¬ 

ference.  When. ..  .shall  have  been  received  by  vote 

of  said . Conference, . .relation  to  the 

. Conference  shall  cease. 

. Bishop. 

A  certificate  granted  by  an  annual  or  quarterly  con¬ 
ference  expires  at  the  following  session  of  the  annual 
conference. 


CERTIFICATE  OF  LOCATION 

This  certifies  that . ,  an  Elder  (or  Deacon) 

in  good  standing  in  the . Annual  Confer¬ 

ence  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church,  is  given  this  Cer¬ 
tificate  of  Location  at . own  request  (or  having 

been  left  without  appointment  by  vote  of  said  An¬ 
nual  Conference  two  years  in  succession). 

Done  in  annual  session  at . .  this . 

day  of . ,  19.  . 


Secretary. 


President. 


306 


FORMS 


QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE  EVANGELIST’S  LICENSE 

This  certifies  that  .  is  authorized  to  offi- 

ciate  as  an  Evangelist  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church 

for  one  year,  provided  h...  spirit  and  practise  are 
such  as  become  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  h. . .  teach¬ 
ings  correspond  with  the  established  doctrines  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  as  held  by  said  church. 

By  order  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the . 

District, .  Conference. 

Done  at . this  .  day  of . 

19.... 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCE  EVANGELIST’S  LICENSE 

This  certifies  that  .  is  authorized  to  offi¬ 

ciate  as  an  Evangelist  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church 

of  North  America,  so  long  as  h.  .  .  spirit  and  practise 
are  such  as  become  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  h... 
teachings  correspond  with  the  established  doctrines 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  held  by  said  church. 

By  order  of  the  .  Annual  Conference  of 

the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

Done  at . .  this  . day  of . . 

19  ... 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


LAY  DELEGATE’S  CREDENTIALS 

This  certifies  that .  was  duly  elected  as  a 

Lay  Delegate  to  represent  the  .  Circuit  at 


FORMS 


307 


the  session  of  the  .  Annual  Conference  to 

be  held  at  . .  commencing  on  the  . 

day  of  . .  19....;  and  that  .  was 

duly  elected  as  Reserve  Lay  Delegate  for  the  same. 

Done  at  the  Annual  Circuit  Meeting  held  at 
. .  on  the . day  of . ,  19.  .  .  . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


RECOMMENDATION  FOR  THE  RESTORATION  OF 
PARCHMENTS 

To  the  President  and  members  of  the . 

Annual  Conference ,  to  be  held  at . 

commencing  on  the . day  of . ,  19.... 

TVe,  the  members  of  the  (Quarterly  or  Annual) 
Conference,  hereby  recommend  the  restoration  of  the 
parchments  of  . .  he  having  been  received  as 


a  local  preacher  on  the  .  Circuit  (or  ad¬ 
mitted  on  trial  in  the  said . Annual  Confer¬ 

ence). 

Done  in  the  regular  session  at  . .  this  day 


of  . .  19....,  and  signed  by  order  and  in  be¬ 
half  of  the  said . Conference. 

. President. 

. Secretary. 

[Note. — The  foregoing  recommendation  should  be  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  conference  having  the  custody  of  the  for¬ 
feited  parchments,  or  to  which  the  candidate  belonged 
when  the  parchments  were  forfeited.] 


308 


FORMS 


ANNUAL  CONFERENCE  DEACONESS’  LICENSE 

This  certifies  that . .  of  . .  is  here¬ 

by  duly  authorized  to  officiate  as  a  Deaconess  in  the 
Free  Methodist  Church  of  North  America.  This  li¬ 
cense  is  good  for  one  year  from  date  hereof. 

By  order  of  the  .  Annual  Conference  of 

the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

Done  at .  this  ....  day  of . .  19. . . . 

. President. 

. Secretary. 


PERMANENT  DEACONESS'  LICENSE 

This  certifies  . .  of  . . .  having  held 

an  annual  conference  Deaconess’  License  for  two 
years,  and  having  served  the  required  time  in  prac¬ 
tical  deaconess’  work,  and  having  passed  a  satisfac¬ 
tory  examination  in  the  required  course  of  study,  is 
granted  this  Permanent  License,  and  is  hereby  au¬ 
thorized  to  officiate  as  a  Deaconess  in  the  Free  Meth¬ 
odist  Church  of  North  America,  so  long  as  her  spirit 
and  practise  are  such  as  become  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

By  order  of  the . . . 

Annual  Conference,  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

Done  at  . . this . of . 19.... 

. . . . . President. 


Secretary. 


INDEX 


The  figures  standing  alone  refer  to  the  numbers  of  the  para¬ 
graphs.  Those  in  parentheses,  to  the  divisions  of  said  para¬ 
graphs. 

Accredited  charitable  institutions,  291  (6) 

Addresses 

Bishops,  384 

Corresponding  secretaries,  387 
Editors,  386 
Evangelists,  396 
Publishing  agent,  385 
Treasurers,  388 

Administration,  Judicial,  179-213 
Administrative  boards,  390-396 — See  Boards 
Admission 

• — See  Reception,  Members,  Conferences 
Into  church  membership,  74-78 
Into  annual  conference,  150-152,  172  (3,  4) 

Advices,  Special 
Chapter  on,  63-73 
Smaller,  to  preachers,  136 
Temperance,  63-65 
On  marriage  and  divorce,  66-70 
Dress,  71 

Secret  Societies,  72,  73 
Africa,  South,  mission  conference,  270,  275 
Agent,  Publishing 
Election  of,  94 
Duties  of,  293  (2,  3) 

Name  and  postoflice  address  of,  385 
Assistant,  election  of,  102  (2),  293  (4) 

Assistant,  duties  of,  293  (5) 

May  nominate,  102  (2),  293  (4) 

Aggressive  evangelism,  119,  292,  292*4 
Allowance — See  Salary,  Stewards,  Support 
Amusements,  worldly,  prohibited,  12 
Annual  conferences,  number  of,  107,  294,  338 
See  Conferences 

Appeal 

General  conference  not  to  abolish  privilege  of,  61  (3), 
62,  97  (3)  98 

Can  not  be  denied,  61  (3),  97  (3) 

309 


310 


INDEX 


[Appeals 


Court  of,  103,  125  (  5),  191,  201,  207 
Of  traveling  preachers  to  general  conference,  191 
Of  local  preachers  to  annual  conference,  201 
Of  members  to  Quarterly  conference,  207 
Duties  of  quarterly  conference,  125  (5),  207 
Of  members,  how  forfeited,  207 
Grounds  of,  to  be  settled,  182  (6) 

Who  disqualified  to  sit  on,  182  (5) 

May  be  referred  to  committee,  190,  192 
President  of  court  of,  103  (1),  159  (8),  190 
While  pending,  penalty  suspended,  193 
While  pending,  ministerial  office  not  exercised,  193 
Appeals,  Triers  of 

General  conference,  191-193 
Executive  committee,  103  (1) 

Annual  conference,  201 
Quarterly  conference,  207 
APPENDIX 

Contents,  383-483 
To  discipline  ordered,  404 
Appointments 

Of  district  elders,  160  (12-17) 

Of  traveling  preachers,  with  limitations,  114 
Preacher  may  be  left  without,  116 
Of  local  preachers,  169 
Of  general  evangelists,  94 
Of  evangelists  by  annual  conference,  121 
By  district  elder,  restriction,  160  (10) 

By  evangelists,  172  (8) 

Appropriations 
— See  Support 

Of  mission  funds,  259,  264,  (3) 

Of  claimants’  funds,  115,  230 
Of  educational  funds,  248  (2) 

Arbitration  in  insolvencies  and  disputes,  209-213 
Articles  of  organization  and  government,  47-62 
Articles  of  religion,  16-38 
Attendance  upon  ordinances  of  God,  45 
Auxiliary 

Conference  church  extension  board,  290 
Woman's  missionary  board,  441 
Bands 

Who  may  organize,  175  (1) 

Who  may  become  members  of,  175,  (1) 

Rules  to  be  approved  by  annual  conference,  175  (2) 
Under  direction  of  whom,  175  (3) 

Who  may  be  licensed  as  band  workers,  175  (4) 
Baptism 

Article  concerning,  33 
Modes  of,  340  (1) 

Ritual  for  infants  and  adults,  341,  342 
Benevolent  Collections 

Report  of  to  annual  conference,  122  (17) 


Books] 


INDEX 


311 


For  educational  purposes,  248 

Claimants,  219-231 

General  missions,  259,  267  (2) 

Annual  conference  mission  fund,  290  (4) 

Foreign  missions,  267  (1) 

For  Sunday-school  work,  256 
For  church  and  parsonage  aid,  244d 
Benevolent  Institutions 

Board  of  education,  245-248c 
Sunday-schools,  249-256 
General  missionary  board,  257-287 
Church  extension,  289,  290 
Board  of  charities  and  benevolences,  291 
Bequests,  Form  of,  383  (8) 

Bible,  Article  concerning,  20 
Bishops 

Members  of  general  conference,  50 

How  chosen,  55,  94 

Term  of  office  begins,  55 

Names  and  postoffice  addresses  of,  384 

Support  of,  214 

Call  extra  session  of  general  conference,  54  (2),  90 
To  preside  in  general  conference,  55,  93 
To  preside  at  annual  conferences,  159  (8) 

Appoint  president  of  annual  conference,  110  (1),  438 
May  change  appointments,  159  (5,  6) 

To  travel  at  large  through  the  connection,  159  (1) 
To  oversee  spiritual  and  temporal  interests,  159  (2) 
Call  committee  to  investigate  preacher,  186 
To  ordain  deacons  and  elders,  155  (1),  156  (1) 

To  decide  questions  of  law,  159  (8) 

Resolution  concerning  decisions  of,  439 
Missionary,  56,  94 
Boards 

Administrative  boards,  390-396 
Trustees  of  general  conference,  390 
Executive  committee,  100-104 
General  missionary,  257-287 
Education,  245-248c 
Conference  claimants,  219-231 
Charities  and  benevolences,  291 
General  church  extension,  289,  290 
Conference  church  extension,  290 
General  Sunday-school,  249 
Aggressive  Evangelism,  119,  292 
Central,  of  conference  examiners,  395 
Woman’s  auxiliary  missionary,  441 
Official,  128,  129 
Conference  evangelistic,  119 
Books 

Bad,  not  to  be  read,  43 

Canonical,  of  the  Scriptures,  20 

To  be  supplied  to  societies  by  preachers,  161  (5) 


312 


INDEX 


[Books 


Borrowing  without  probability  of  paying,  43 
Boundaries  of  annual  conference,  294-338 
Boundaries,  disputes,  how  settled,  339 
Bribery  at  elections  forbidden,  146  (6) 

Budget  system  recommended,  216  (5) 

Buying  and  Selling 

Buying  and  selling  of  slaves,  43 
Of  goods  with  duty  unpaid,  43 
On  the  Lord’s  day,  43 
Using  many  words,  43 
Burial  of  the  Dead 
Ritual  for,  346 
No  charge  for  allowable,  346 
Business 

Failure  in  secular,  209-213 
Preacher  may  vote  in  official  meetings,  430 
Call  to  preach,  examination  concerning,  134 
Camp  meetings,  held  by  quarterly  conference,  125  (5) 
Canadian  conferences,  relation  to,  2SS 
Candidates  for  Membership 
Reception  on  trial,  74 
Reception  into  full  membership,  75-77 
Candidates  for  the  Ministry 
Reception  on  trial,  150 
Reception  into  full  membership,  151 
Catalogue  of  societies,  161  (9) 

Central  board  of  conference  examiners,  395 
Certificate 

Transfer  of  membership,  79 

Pastors  to  receive  and  dismiss  members,  161  (1) 
Form  of  to  preacher  transferring,  4S3 
Form  of  in  case  of  preacher  locating,  4S3 
Form  of  to  preacher  received  on  trial,  4S3 
AVho  are  entitled  to  receive,  79  (3) 

Who  are  not  entitled  to  receive  79  (4) 

Form  of  in  joining  another  denomination,  79  (5) 
Membership  while  holding  certificate,  79,  foot-note 
Limit  of,  437,  444,  461,  468,  469 
Challenge  for  Cause 

Privilege  of  in  all  cases  granted,  1S2  (3) 

Validity  of  determined  by  presiding  officer,  182  (3) 
Character  of  ministers  examined,  122  (14) 

Charges — See  Complaints 
Church  trials,  179-208 
Annual  conference  may  try,  etc.,  189 
Law  concerning,  185-188,  197,  199 
Form  of  procedure,  194,  195 
Charges,  Pastoral 

Two  or  more  may  be  united,  414  (2) 

Article  on,  47 
Charitable  Institutions 

Board  of  charities  and  benevolences.  291 
Names  of  accredited  institutions,  291  (6) 


Church] 


INDEX 


313 


Children 

Duty  of  instructing,  151  (14),  251  (1-3) 

May  be  baptized,  75,  foot-note 
Ritual  for  baptism  of,  340 
Children’s  Day,  247  (2),  251  (5) 

Choir  Singing,  prohibited  in  public  worship,  10,  81  (6) 
Christ 

Article  on  divinity  and  humanity,  17 
Article  on  resurrection,  18 
Articles  on  sacrifice,  17,  34,  35 
Christian  men’s  goods,  article  on,  37 
Christian  man’s  oath,  article  on,  38 
Church 

Article  on,  31 

Article  regarding  rites  and  ceremonies  of,  36 
Free  Methodist,  origin  and  character,  1-14 
Free  Methodist,  articles  of  religion,  16-38 
Free  Methodist,  incorporation,  383 
Churches — See  Deeds  and  Trustees 

Church  property,  chapter  on,  232-244 
Church  and  parsonage  aid,  244a-244f 
Erection  of,  244 

Incorporation  and  deeds  of,  237-243 
Not  to  be  built  on  leased  land,  244  (3) 

Not  to  be  liable  for  current  expenses,  241 
To  be  built  plain,  244  (1) 

Executive  committee  to  furnish  plans  for,  244  (5) 
To  be  without  debt,  244  (2) 

Plans  to  be  submitted  to  conference  committee,  244 
(4) 

Form  for  dedication  of,  349 
To  be  under  care  of  pastor,  236 
All  seats  in  church  buildings  free,  13,  238 
Church  and  Parsonage  Aid 
Chapter  on,  244a-244f 

Executive  committee  constitute  society,  244a  (1) 
Object  of,  244a  (b) 

What  is  considered  loss?  244a  (2) 

To  publish  reports,  244a  (3) 

Annual  conference  society,  244b 
Aid,  244c  (1) 

Amount  of  aid  given,  244b  (2) 

Duties  of  preachers,  244d 
Reserve  fund,  244e 
Emergency,  244f 
Church  Extension 

Church  extension  board,  general,  289 

Church  extension  and  aid  society,  conference,  290 

Application  for  aid  to  board,  290  (6,  7) 

Reports,  annual,  290  (3),  290  (5) 

Churches  to  pay  back  fund,  290  (8) 

Church  finance — See  Benevolent  Collections,  Stewards, 
Support 


314 


INDEX 


[Church 


Church  literature,  pastors  to  supply,  161  (5) 

Church  Property 

Chapter  on,  232-244 

Trustees,  appointment  and  duties  of,  232-236 
Conveyance  of  to  conform  to  law  and  Discipline,  238 
Erection  of  churches,  244 
Sale  of  churches,  242,  243,  414 
Abandoned,  to  be  sold,  how,  243 
Not  to  be  encumbered  for  current  expenses,  241 
Church  record,  to  be  kept,  161  (6) 

Church  trials,  179-208 — See  Trials 
Circuits 

Charge  of,  114,  118,  160  (1) 

Representation  of  in  annual  conference,  106 
May  be  divided  by  district  elder,  160  (11),  456 
May  be  united,  414  (2) 

Must  pay  expenses  of  district  elder,  160  (3) 

To  be  supplied  during  conference,  162 
Under  care  of  district  elder,  118 
Under  care  of  official  board,  118,  128  (3,  4) 

May  request  removal  of  pastor,  160  (7) 

Circuit  Meeting 

Chapter  on,  130,  131 
Notice  of,  130  (1) 

Business  of,  130  (1-4) 

Order  of  business,  131 

When  only  one  society,  may  elect,  130  (3) 

Elect  trustees  when  society  is  extinct,  233 
Special,  how  called,  130  (5) 

Not  to  vote  on  return  of  pastor,  130  (6) 

Pastor  can  not  vote,  130  (1),  430 
Claimants 

Chapter  on,  218-231 
Who  are,  221  (1) 

Allowance,  221  (2),  222,  223,  225 
Allowance  to,  by  w'horn  estimated,  115,  221  (2),  409 
Committee  on,  115 
Fund,  how  raised,  219,  231a 
Fund,  disbursed  by  board  of  claimants,  230 
Allowance  to  be  paid  semi-annually,  222  (3) 
Necessitous  cases,  226 
On  providing  houses  for,  227 
Blanks  for  applicants,  224 
Claims 

Pledged,  75  (7) 

Where  payable,  79  (2) 

Classes  and  Class  Meetings 
Section  on,  83-S5 
Origin  of,  39,  41 
Purpose  of,  83 

Organization  of  by  preachers  in  charge,  161  (12) 
Attendance  on  required,  75,  S5 
Neglect  of,  how  to  deal  with,  85 


Conference] 


INDEX 


315 


General,  when  held,  84 

To  be  visited  by  preacher  in  charge,  161  (13) 

To  be  held  separate  from  testimony  meetings,  83  (3) 
Class  Leaders 

Chapter  on,  176 

When  and  how  appointed,  176  (1) 

Qualifications  of,  161  (3) 

Duties  of,  41,  83,  176  (2-5) 

Improper,  how  changed,  176  (4) 

Members  quarterly  conference,  125  (1) 

Members  official  board,  128  (1) 

To  be  examined  by  preachers,  161  (3) 

Course  of  reading  for,  360 

Collections — See  Support,  Missions,  Claimants,  Educa¬ 
tion,  Church  Extension 
Colleges,  247  (4) 

Committees 

On  ministerial  relations,  referring  cases  to,  436,  446 
On  trial  of  preachers,  186,  187,  190 
On  trial  of  members,  202,  204,  207 
On  claimants  and  claims,  115 
On  appeal  cases,  182  (5) 

On  investigation  of  debts,  212 
On  estimating  preacher’s  salary,  216  (1) 

In  general  conference,  94,  192 
In  annual  conference,  114,  115,  190 
In  quarterly  conference,  198,  199 
Communion  cups  recommended,  343 
Complaints,  Grounds  for — See  Charges 
Unscriptural  conduct,  182  (1),  184 
Violation  of  general  rules,  46 
Neglect  of  duties,  85,  184,  186,  202 
Sabbath  breaking,  146 
Evil  speaking,  146 

Conformity  to  the  world  in  dress,  71,  146 
Disseminating  false  doctrines,  184 
Unscriptural  divorce,  69,  70,  415,  424 
Bribery,  146 

Unwarrantable  contraction  of  debts,  146 
Non-payment  of  debts,  43,  146,  212,  213 
Insolvency  and  fraud,  161  (21) 

Inefficiency  or  want  of  usefulness,  189 
Abandoning  work,  186 
Smuggling,  43,  146  (5) 

Communion — See  Lord’s  Supper 
Community  of  goods,  article  on,  37 
Conference,  annual 
Chapter  on,  105-122 
Names  and  boundaries  of,  294-338 
Members  of,  105,  407,  412 
Appoint  time  and  place  of  meeting,  109 
President  of,  159  (8) 

Elect  president  pro  tern,  110  (1) 


316 


INDEX 


[Conference 


Elect  secretary  who  is  custodian  of  records,  110  (2) 
Elect  treasurer,  110  (3) 

Elect  Sunday-school  secretary,  250 
Elect  delegates  to  general  conference,  51,  52,  S7-S9 
Elect  and  appoint  district  elders,  113,  160  (13,  14) 
Elect  lay  members  of  the  stationing  committee,  111 
Elect  to  deacon’s  orders,  122  (6),  155  (1) 

Elect  to  elder's  orders,  122  (7),  156  (1) 

Deliberations,  mode  of,  112 
Division  of,  how  affected,  159  (7) 

Under  regular  questions,  122 

Auxiliary  board,  church  extension,  268 

Call  extra  general  conference,  54  (2),  90 

Appoint  committee  on  claimants  and  claims,  115 

Organize  evangelistic  board,  119 

To  appoint  committee  on  charities,  269  (8) 

Vote  on  changes  of  Discipline,  62,  9S 
Admit  preachers  on  trial,  122  (3),  150 
Admit  preachers  into  full  membership,  122  (5),  151, 152 
Term  of  probation  in,  151,  362  (2) 

Examine  character  of  preachers,  122  (14) 

License  and  appoint  evangelists,  172  (2) 

Admit  evangelists  to  membership,  172  (4) 

Locate  preachers,  116,  117,  122  (2),  157,  3JS9 

Superannuate  preachers,  122  (10),  164 

Make  superannuate  preachers  effective,  189,  428 

Place  on  supernumerary  list,  122  (9),  163 

May  leave  a  preacher  without  an  appointment,  116 

May  declare  a  preacher  withdrawn,  154 

Shall  appoint  auditor,  110  (4) 

Try  and  expel  preachers,  1S4-193 
Grant  certificates  of  transfer,  159  (6) 

Receive  reports  of  missionary  board.  259  (1) 

Receive  statistical  reports,  122  (17-23),  161  (6),  435 
Receive  and  appropriate  missionary  funds,  268 
Raise  claimants’  fund,  122  (21),  226-231 
Raise  funds  for  church  extension,  290  (4) 

Hear  appeals  from  quarterly  conferences,  190,  201 

Recording  reports  of.  416 

Effect  of  law  decisions  in,  417 

Not  authorized  to  make  law,  399 

Permit  withdrawal  of  preachers,  122  (12) 

Not  authorized  to  try  probationers,  400 
Cannot  decide  who  are  members  of  a  society,  407 
Withdraw  al  from  forfeits  relation  to,  431,  432 
Women  eligible  as  delegates  to,  410 
Women  may  be  admitted,  120,  172  (4) 

Women  may  be  ordained  deacon,  120,  172  (3) 
Organization  of  new  members  necessary,  159  (7) 

At  adjournment,  conference  year  closes,  123 
To  make  plans  for  raising  stewardship  fund,  12±y2 
Fast  day  recommended,  124 


Conference] 


INDEX 


317 


Conference  Claimants 
Who  are,  221 

Collections  for,  122  (21),  220,  226,  228,  231 
Permanent  fund  for,  220 
Conference,  General 
Chapter  on,  86-99 

Organization  and  government,  50-62 
Members  of,  50-52,  87,  88 
Delegates  to,  how  elected,  51,  52,  89 
Time  of  meeting,  54  (1),  91 
Credentials,  53 
Quorum,  59,  92 

Expenses  of  entertainment,  99 
Extra  sessions,  54  (2),  90 
President,  55,  93,  159  (8) 

Deliberations  and  division  of  house,  60,  96 

Powers  and  restrictions  of,  61,  97 

Elects  bishops  and  other  officers,  55-57,  94 

Elects,  directs  and  reviews  board  of  trustees,  346 

Elects  members  of  executive  committee,  58,  94 

Elects  publishing  agent,  57  (1),  94 

Elects  members  of  missionary  board,  58,  94,  261 

Missionary  districts  of,  260 

Elects  editors  of  official  publications,  94 

Legislation,  past  acts  of,  rescinded,  408 

To  try  appeals,  192 

Review  decisions  of  bishops,  159  (8) 

Form  new  conferences,  49,  159  (7) 

Incorporation  of,  383 
Form  of  bequest  to,  383  (8) 

Conference,  Quarterly 
Chapter  on,  125,  126,  127 
Members  of,  125  (1) 

Article  on,  48 

Times  and  places  of  meeting,  125  (2) 

President  of,  125  (3),  198 
Secretary  of,  125  (4) 

Duties  of,  125  (5) 

Not  to  be  called  irregularly,  405 

May  hear  complaints  and  try  appeals,  125  (5),  207 

May  grant  second  arbitration,  210 

To  hold  camp-meetings,  125  (5) 

May  grant  and  renew  local  preacher's  license,  172  Cl) 
May  grant  evangelist’s  license,  172  (1) 

Recommend  preachers  to  annual  conference,  125  (5) 
Recommend  local  preachers  for  orders,  166,  167 
Recommend  evangelists  to  annual  conference,  172  (2) 
Approve  appointment  of  district  elders,  160  (15) 
Receive  pastor’s  report  of  Sunday-schools,  251  (4) 
Relation  of  preacher  outside  his  conference,  426 
Special  sessions,  how  called,  125  (2),  160  (15) 
Conference,  South  Africa  Mission,  270,  275 


318 


INDEX 


[Conference 


Conference,  Japan  Mission  Conference,  276-2S4 
Constitution  of  General  W.  M.  S.,  482 
Constructions  of  law,  397-479 
Conversation,  43,  86,  135,  138  (5) 

Conveyance  of  church  property,  242,  243 
Counsel  for  accused  members,'  1S2  (2) 

Course  of  reading  for  class  leaders,  360 
Courses  of  Study 

For  traveling  preachers,  350-354 

Examination  of  preachers  required,  155  (1),  156  (1) 
Excusing  from  disapproved,  437 
For  local  preachers,  355-358 

Examination  of  local  preachers  required,  125  (6),  35S 
For  evangelists,  172  (1),  355-356 
Method  of  examining  evangelists,  356 
For  deaconesses,  359,  359a 
For  South  Africa  conference,  361-364 
For  missionaries  in  India,  365-36S 
For  Bible  school  for  natives  in  India,  369-377 
For  missionaries  in  China,  37S-3S1 
Covetousness,  161  (19) 

Credentials  of  Ordination 

Entitled  to  receive,  when,  152  (2) 

Forfeited,  how  restored,  196  (1,  2) 

Surrender  of,  in  case  of  withdrawal,  154,  foot-note,  427 
In  case  of  refusal  to  surrender,  196  (3) 

From  minister  of  another  church,  152 
Deaconesses 

Chapter  on,  174 

Age  and  of  good  report,  174  (1) 

Calling,  duties  of,  etc.,  174 

Members  of  quarterly  conference,  125  (1),  174  (10) 
Shall  report  annually,  174  (7) 

Amenability,  174  (7) 

Garb  of,  174  (8) 

Must  pass  examination,  174  (6,  11),  359,  359a 
How  recommended  for  license,  174  (3,  4),  132  (3) 
Office  of,  not  perpetual,  174  (9) 

Spiritual  qualification,  174  (2) 

Deacons 

When  and  how  constituted,  122  (6),  155  (1),  166 
Women  may  be,  120 
Authority  of,  155  (2) 

Local,  duties  of,  16S 
Suspension  of,  157,  184,  1S6-1S9 
Ritual  for  ordination,  34S 
Debts 

Not  to  be  improperly  contracted. _43 
Preachers  to  be  free  from,  151  (17) 

Preachers  not  to  involve  circuit  in,  244  (2) 

Disputes  concerning,  209-213 
Decisions 

Of  bishops,  have  force  of  law,  417,  439 


Decisions] 


INDEX 


319 


Of  bishops,  notification  of  to  be  given,  439 
Of  bishops,  subject  to  appeal,  159  (8) 

Who  shall  decide  as  to  membership  in  church,  407 
Eligibility  of  women  as  delegates,  410 
Ministers  being  enrolled  as  soon  as  admitted,  401 
Church  relationship  of  preachers  on  trial,  409 
The  validity  of  a  letter  of  withdrawal,  418,  453 
Refusal  to  seat  a  woman  regularly  elected,  411 
Church  letter  held  by  unworthy  person,  414  (1) 
Uniting  circuits  by  district  elders,  414  (2) 
Appointment  of  preacher  to  two  circuits,  414  (3) 
Cases  of  divorce,  415,  424 
Courts  going  outside  grounds  of  appeal,  419 
Finality  of  decisions  of  courts  of  appeal,  420 
Expiration  of  term  of  bishop,  421 
General  conference,  on  missions,  398 
Annual  conferences  trying  probationers,  400 
Annual  conferences  enacting  law,  399  (1) 

Shortening  probation  of  preachers,  399  (2) 

Letters  to  members  going  to  other  churches,  79  (5) 

Conference  resolution  not  having  effect  of  law,  402 

Members  withdrawing,  not  joining  any  church,  79  (4) 

Speedy  trials  of  accused  members,  403 

Interpolations  of  secretaries  in  minutes,  404 

Calling  of  quarterly  conferences,  405 

Application  of  rule  concerning  gold,  406 

Effect  of  new  legislation  on  old,  408 

A  delegate  who  is  not  enrolled,  412 

Preservation  of  rough  minutes,  413 

Reports  adopted  by  annual  conference,  416 

Conflicting  decisions  of  bishops,  417 

Ministers  uniting  with  other  churches,  154 

The  wearing  of  neckties,  422 

A  supply  having  charge  of  a  circuit,  447 

Cannot  retain  membership  in  two  churches,  448 

Women's  right  to  seat  in  conference,  449,  450 

On  certificates  of  standing,  451 

On  appointment  of  district  elders,  452 

Validity  of  an  evangelist's  license,  455,  463,  465,  466 

On  dividing  circuits,  456 

Quarterly  conference,  fixing  dates  for  camp  meeting, 
457 

Placing  name  of  conference  on  journals,  459 
On  ordination  of  local  deacon,  460 
Validity  of  certificate  of  transfer,  461,  468,  469 
Preacher  on  trial  may  act  as  delegate,  467 
Dividing  circuits,  471 

Transferring  a  member  without  certificate,  472 

Quarterly  conference  holding  adjourned  sitting,  473 

Preacher  on  trial  not  eligible  to  seat,  473 y2 

Pastor's  right  to  parsonage  rent,  474 

Wearing  flowers  and  feathers,  475 

Suspension  of  a  preacher  for  two  years  illegal,  476 


320 


INDEX 


[Dedication 


Who  are  eligible  in  forming  new  societies,  477 
A  substitute  motion  out  of  order,  when?  478 
Annual  conference  recommendation  on  district  elder’s 
home,  479 

Resolution  concerning  suspension  of  a  member,  4S0 
Resolution  concerning  right  of  petition,  481 
Dedication  of  churches,  form  for,  349 
Deeds,  incorporation,  237-243 
Delegates,  General  Conference 
Members  of,  50,  87 

Basis  of  representation,  51  (1),  52  (1),  88 
Method  of  electing,  51,  (2),  52  (2),  89 
Expenses  of,  how  met,  159  (9),  99  (1) 

Absent,  not  counted,  412 
Delegates,  Annual  Conference 
Lay,  members  of,  105 
Basis  of  representation  in,  106 
Women  eligible  as,  410 
Absent,  not  counted,  412 
Ministerial  and  lay  vote  separately,  89 
Lay  representation  on  stationing  committee,  9,  114 
Lay  representation  on  claimants’  committee,  115 
Desire  of  salvation  evidenced,  43-46 
Diligence  enjoined,  135 

Disagreement  in  business,  arbitration,  209-213 
Discipline,  Free  Methodist 

Contains  doctrines  and  form  of  government,  15-62 

Must  be  kept  by  probationers,  74 

Must  be  kept  by  members,  75 

Must  be  kept  by  preachers,  135 

Must  be  enforced,  46,  146,  160  (2) 

Dishonesty,  209-213 

Dismissing  members  by  certificate,  161  (1) 

Disobedience  in  neglect  of  appointment,  157 
Disorderly  and  will  not  be  reproved,  129  (6) 

Disputes,  settlement  of  by  arbitration,  209-213 
Dissemination  of  false  doctrine,  184 
Districts,  Annual  Conference 

Annual  conference  divided  into,  113 

District  elder  over,  113 

Supervision  of  by  district  elder,  160  (1) 

Districts  may  incorporate,  236a 
Districts,  general  conference  missionary,  262 
District  Elders 
— See  Elders 

Chapter  on,  160 

How  appointed,  160  (13,  14) 

Duties  of,  160 

Term  of  office,  160  (12) 

Jurisdiction  of,  160  (16) 

May  be  traveling  or  stationed,  9,  160  (13,  14) 
Vacancy  in  office,  how  filled,  160  (15) 

Suspension  of,  187,  188 


Elders] 


INDEX 


321 


Call  committee  to  suspend  preacher,  187 
How  supported,  160  (18),  215 
Quarterly  conference,  relation  to,  160  (17) 

May  hold  official,  circuit,  or  society  meeting,  160  (6) 
On  employing  a  rejected  preacher,  160  (10) 

May  divide  circuit,  160  (11) 

Diversions,  improper,  43 

Division  of  conference,  how  effected,  159  (7) 

Division  of  the  house,  96,  112 

Divorce  and  marriage  of  divorced  persons,  66-70 

Divorced  Persons 

Preachers  shall  not  officiate  at  marriage  of,  70 
Decisions  concerning,  378,  387,  414 
Doctrines  of  church,  16-38 
Doing  no  harm,  doing  good,  43,  44 
Dress 

General  rule,  43 
Chapter  on,  71 
Drunkenness,  43,  63-65 
Economy,  Temporal 

Economy  of  time,  preachers,  147 
Support  of  effective  ministers,  214-217 
Support  of  conference  claimants,  218-231 
Church  property,  232-244 
Editors 

How  elected,  57  (1),  94 
Names  and  postoffice  addresses,  386 
Education 

Chapter  on,  245-248c 
Board  of,  245,  246 
Incorporation  of  board,  245  (1) 

Annual  conference  board,  246 

Board  to  recognize  conference  auxiliaries,  247  (1) 
Board  shall  adjust  differences,  247  (3) 

Duties  of  pastors  concerning,  248 
Educational  funds,  245  (2) 

Educational  institutions,  247 

Schools  to  give  free  vocal  lessons,  248  (3) 

Conditions  upon  which  support  is  denied,  248a 
Endowment  funds  to  be  invested,  24Sb 
Distribution  of  endowment  funds,  248b  (2) 

Canada  conferences  to  retain  funds,  248c 
Elders 

How  constituted  and  ordained,  156 
Probation  for  ordination  as,  156  (1) 

Duties  of,  156  (2) 

Suspension  of,  187 
Appeal  of,  191 

Are  under  annual  conference  jurisdiction,  189 
Eligible  to  election  as  bishops,  55,  94 
May  be  members  of  the  executive  committee,  100 
Eligible  as  delegates  to  general  conference,  51  (2),  8S 
Eligible  as  presidents  pro  tern,  55,  93,  110  (1) 


322 


INDEX 


[Sanctification 


Appointed  president  may  transfer  preacher,  402 
Eligible  to  election  as  district  elders,  113 
Form  for  ordaining,  322 
Local,  amenability  of,  168 
Entire  Sanctification 
Article  on,  28 
By  the  Holy  Ghost,  10 
Experience  of  insisted  on,  7,  75  (2),  151  (4) 
Estimating  Allowances — See  Support 
Equal  rights,  9 
Evangelistic  Boards 
General  board,  292 
Annual  conference  board,  119,  292% 

Evangelistic  districts,  292  (5) 

Evangelists 

Chapter  on,  172 

Course  of  study  for,  355,  356,  172  (9) 

Membership  in  official  board,  128  (1) 

District  elders  may  act  as,  160  (5,  18) 

Women,  admitted  to  conference,  172  (3,  4),  443 
Evidence  in  church  trials,  195  (6-11) 

Evil  speaking,  43,  135,  146 
Examination 

Of  character,  122  (14),  127  (23) 

Of  persons  called  to  preach,  134 
Of  preachers  received  on  trial,  150 
Of  preachers  received  into  full  membership,  151 
Of  traveling  preachers  required,  155  (1),  156  (1) 

Of  local  preachers,  166,  355,  356 

Of  local  preachers  who  wish  to  be  ordained,  357,  358 
Of  local  preachers  required,  126,  358 
Of  evangelists,  172  (1,  9),  355,  356 
Of  deaconesses,  359a,  174  (11) 

Of  missionaries  in  Africa,  India,  China,  361,  365,  378 
Of  missionaries  in  Japan,  369-377 
Examiners,  Central  board  of,  395 
Exclusion  for  neglect  of  means  of  grace,  46,  202 
Excusing  ministers  deficient  in  studies  disapproved,  437 
Executive  Committee 
Chapter  on,  100-104 
How  constituted,  58,  94,  100 
Members  of,  391 
Quorum,  101 

Court  of  appeals,  103  (1),  191 
President  of,  100 

May  change  time  and  place  of  holding  general  con¬ 
ference,  54  (1) 

Fills  vacancies  in  general  conference  offices,  102 
Is  board  of  conference  claimants,  103  (3),  391 
Decides  questions  of  law,  103  (2) 

Reviews  irregularities,  103  (2) 

Settles  disputes  about  boundaries,  339 
Authorizes  formation  of  new  conferences,  159  (7) 


Missionary] 


INDEX 


323 


Provides  for  bishops’  salaries,  214 

May  elect  assistant  publishing  agent,  103  (3) 

Is  church  extension  society,  267  (1) 

Provides  plans  for  church  buildings,  244  (4) 
Supervises  publishing  interests,  104 
To  set  certain  salaries,  204 
Exhorters 

How  licensed,  129  (6) 

Are  members  of  official  board,  128  (1) 

Are  members  of  quarterly  conference,  125  (1) 
Expulsion — See  Penalties 
Of  members,  202-207 
Of  local  deacon  or  elder,  197-201 
Of  member  of  annual  conference,  189 
Restoration  of  expelled  member,  208 
Failure  in  business,  209-213 
Fasting 

Enjoined,  45 
Recommended,  151  (16) 

Quarterly,  161  (20) 

Preceding  annual  conference,  124 
Preceding  general  conference,  99  (2) 

Feeding  the  hungry,  44 
Fellowship,  75  (7),  149 
Foreign  Missions 

Chapter  on  missionary  work,  257-287 
General  missionary  board,  257 
Woman’s  missionary  society,  482 
Form  for  dedication  of  churches,  349 
Forms 

Chapter  on,  483 

Of  articles  of  incorporation,  383 
Of  bequests,  383  (8) 

Of  certificates  of  membership,  79 
Forms  of  Procedure 
— See  Order  of  Business 

For  church  trials,  194,  195 
Frauds,  161  (2) 

Free  Methodist — See  The  Free  Methodist 
Free  seats,  13,  97  (2),  238 
Free  Will,  article  of  religion,  23 
Full  membership — See  Membership 
Funds — See  Denominational  Funds 
Future  punishment,  7,  29 

General  conference,  50-62,  86-99 — See  Conference 
General  conference  missionary  districts,  262 
General  Missionary  Board 
Section  on,  257-268 
Name  and  objects,  257 
How  constituted,  58,  94 
Members  of,  258 
Directors  of,  their  duties,  264 
Secretary,  265 


324 


INDEX 


[Rules 


Treasurer,  266 
Woman’s  auxiliary,  441 
Is  board  of  charities,  291  (1), 

Shall  meet  annually,  258  (1) 

Fixes  amount  for  superannuated  missionaries,  221  (2) 
Moneys  of  to  be  deposited,  264 
General  Rules 

Division  on,  39-46 

Subscribed  to,  74  (2),  75  (6),  151  (6) 

Must  be  enforced,  46,  161  (11) 

Must  be  read,  161  (16) 

How  changed,  62,  98 

General  Sunday-school  secretary,  249  (3),  387 
Gold  not  to  be  worn,  8,  43,  75  (4) 

Gold  wedding  rings  forbidden,  406 
Good  works,  article  of  religion,  25 
Goods  of  Christians  not  common,  37 
Government — See  Discipline 

Grace,  gifts  and  usefulness  proof  of  call  to  preach,  134(2) 

Grace,  means  of,  32,  45,  138 

Historical  statement,  1-14 

Holiness — See  Sanctification 

Holy  Ghost,  believed  in,  10,  19,  75  (1) 

Holy  Scriptures,  20,  21,  45 
Holy  Trinity,  16 
Hop  Growing,  397 
Home  missions,  285-287 
Immoral  Conduct,  Accusation  of 
In  case  of  traveling  preacher,  187 
In  case  of  local  preacher,  199 
In  case  of  lay  member,  202 
Form  of  charge,  194 

Inefficient  traveling  preachers  may  be  located,  116,  189 

Incarnation  of  Christ,  article  on,  17 

Incorporation 

Of  general  conference,  articles  of,  383 
Churches,  237-243 
Trustees,  232-236 

Individual  communion  cups  recommended,  343 
Infant  baptism,  341 

Insolvency,  rules  against,  161  (21),  209-213 
Institutions,  245-270— -See  Boards 
Intoxicating  liquors  forbidden,  43 
Itinerancy 

Bishops,  9,  94,  158,  159  (1) 

District  elders,  113,  160  (13-15) 

Traveling  preachers,  97  (2),  114 
Japan  Mission  Conference,  276 
Jewelry  forbidden,  8,  43,  75  (4),  406 
Journal — See  Minutes 
Judicial  administration,  179-213 
Justification,  articles  on,  24,  25,  27,  28 
Labor,  with  offenders,  46,  179,  180,  184,  202 


Marriage] 


INDEX 


325 


Labor  Unions 

Open  organization  not  opposed,  73  (1) 

Objectionable  unions  described,  73  (1),  438 
Membership  in,  prohibited,  73  (1),  161  (21) 

Law 

Moral,  binding  upon  all  Christians,  21 
Going  to  law  with  brothers  forbidden,  43 
Appeals  from  decisions  on,  159  (8) 

Constructions  of  law  by  general  conference,  397-479 
Lay  delegates  to  general  conference,  52,  87,  89 
Lay  delegates  to  annual  conference,  49,  105,  106 
Lay  delegation,  61  (2),  97  (2) 

Lay  helpers,  165-178 
Laymen 

Have  equal  powers  with  preachers,  9,  60,  96,  112 
Members  of  executive  committee,  100 
Members  of  general  conference,  9,  52,  87 
Members  of  annual  conference,  9,  105,  106 
Members  of  stationing  committee,  9,  114 
Leaders,  class,  41,  83-85,  176 — See  Class  Leaders 
Licenses 

Of  local  preachers  126 
Of  evangelists,  125  (5),  172  (1) 

Of  deaconesses,  174  (1-6) 

Of  exhorters,  129  (6) 

Forms  for,  483 

Liquors,  intoxicating,  forbidden,  43 
Literature 

Societies  to  be  supplied  with,  161  (5) 

Of  Sunday-school,  how  selected,  252  (7),  254  (5) 
Local  deacon,  155,  157 
Local  elder,  156,  157 

Location  of  general  conference,  54  (1),  91 
Local  preachers,  165-171 — See  Preachers 
Location  of  Preachers 

By  annual  conferences,  153,  122  (8) 

For  inefficiency,  116,  153  (2) 

Certificate,  form  for,  483 
Lord’s  Supper 

Article  of  religion  on,  34 

To  be  received,  45,  138  (3),  151  (7) 

Unfermented  wine  to  be  used,  64 

Individual  communion  cups  recommended,  343 

To  be  administered  by  elders,  156  (2) 

Deacons  may  assist  at,  155  (2) 

Stewards  to  provide  elements  for,  178  (10) 
Love-feasts,  to  be  held,  82,  161  (4) 

Magistrates,  not  to  be  spoken  evil  of,  43 
Marriage 

Chapter  on,  66-70 

Who  may  perform  ceremony,  155  (2),  156  (2) 

Form  of  solemnizing,  345 
Means  of  Grace,  45,  138 


326 


INDEX 


[Meetings 


Meetings 

Class — See  Classes  and  Class-meetings 

Official,  128,  129 

Society,  132,  133 

Circuit,  130,  131 

Quarterly,  to  be  held,  160  (5) 

General  quarterly,  to  be  held,  160  (4),  125  (2) 
Members 

Reception  of,  74-78 

To  be  received  and  dismissed  by  preacher,  161  (1) 
Amenability  and  trial  of,  202-208 
Duties  of,  43-46 

Of  another  church  joining  ours  in  a  body,  77 
How  reinstated,  78 

Shall  pay  their  conference  claims,  161  (13) 
Membership 

Basis  of  representation  in  general  conference,  50,  88 

Of  local  preachers,  168,  170 

Transfer  of  by  certificate,  79,  161  (14) 

Transfer  of  by  missionaries  to  Africa,  434 
Methodical  employment  of  preacher’s  time,  147 
Ministers— See.  Preachers 
Minutes 

Original  to  be  preserved,  413 

Of  annual  conference  to  be  examined,  110  (2) 

Of  quarterly  conference  to  be  examined,  126  (4) 
Mission,  South  Africa  conference,  270,  275 
Mission,  Japan  conference,  276,  284 
Missions,  Home,  285,  287 
Missionary  bishop,  56,  94 

Missionary  Board — See  General  Missionary  Board 
Missionary  Society,  Woman's,  constitution  of,  482 
Missionary  work,  chapter  on,  257,  268 
Music 

Instrumental  prohibited  in  churches,  10,  81  (6) 
Instrumental  may  not  be  used  in  Sunday-schools,  433 
Sacred  to  be  cultivated,  81  (3) 

Schools  to  give  free  vocal  lessons,  248 
New  trial,  remanding  for  a,  182  (7) 

Oath,  a  Christian  man’s,  38 
Oblation  of  Christ,  35 

Obedience  to  Discipline,  46,  74  (2),  75  (6),  115  (6-11) 
Official  Board 

Chapter  on,  128,  129 
How  constituted,  128  (1) 

Order  of  business,  129 

Consent  to  change  of  preachers,  159  (5) 

Appoint  committee  on  salary,  216  (1) 

Call  in  district  elder,  160  (3) 

How  extra  meetings  may  be  called,  160  (3) 

Old  Testament,  Christian’s  relation  to,  21 
Order  of  Business 

Annual  conference,  122 


Preachers] 


INDEX 


327 


Quarterly  conference,  127 
Official  board,  129 
Circuit  meeting,  131 
Society  meeting,  133 
Sunday-school  board,  254  (7) 

Order  of  public  worship,  80 — See  Worship 

Orders,  two,  ministers  and  laymen,  51,  52,  60,  89,  96,  112 

Orders,  recognition  of,  152  (2) 

Ordination 

Of  elders,  347 
Of  deacons,  348 
Recognition  of,  152  (2) 

Organization  and  government,  articles  of,  47-62 
Origin  and  character  of  Free  Methodist  church,  1-14 
Original  sin,  article  on,  22 

Orphans  of  preachers  to  be  supported,  221-223,  225 
Parchments — See  Credentials  of  Ordination 
Parents 

Baptism  of  children,  341 

When  woman  may  marry  without  consent  of,  68 
Parsonages 

To  be  built  without  debt,  244  (2) 

Not  to  be  on  leased  land,  244  (3) 

Not  to  be  liable  for  current  expenses,  241 
Pastors,  or  preachers  in  charge — See  Preachers 
Pastoral  charges,  47,  414  (2,  3) 

Pastoral  visiting,  142-147,  161  (13) 

Periodicals,  church,  122  (20) 

Penalties 

Reproof,  184,  202 

Putting  on  probation,  censure,  202 
Suspension,  location,  186-190,  198,  199 
Denial  of  society  and  sacraments,  46,  182  (8) 
Expulsion,  184,  198,  202 

Probation  as  a  penalty  not  to  exceed  six  months, 
202 

Those  under,  must  vacate  offices,  202a,  480 
Those  under,  must  surrender  credentials,  220a 
Those  under,  must  not  exercise  official  functions, 
208a 

Permanent  fund,  220,  227 
Petition,  right  to  be  heard,  481 
Poor 

Special  efforts  for,  41  (3),  44,  129  (6) 

Duties  of  Stewards,  178  (3) 

Prayer,  45,  136,  138  (1,  2),  162 
Prayer  meeting,  162 

Preachers  in  charge  of  circuits  employing  evangelists, 
161  (22) 

Preachers,  Local 

How  licensed,  125  (5),  127  (13) 

Members  of  class,  168 
Members  of  official  board,  128  (1) 


328 


INDEX 


[Preachers 


Members  of  quarterly  conference,  168 
Amenability,  168 

Eligibility  to  orders,  127  (24),  166,  167 

May  supply  work,  170 

Pastors  to  oversee,  169 

Trial  of,  198-201 

Appeal  of,  201 

Membership,  when  supplying,  170 
Course  of  study  for,  355,  356,  171 
Preachers,  Superannuated — See  Claimants 
Relation  defined,  164 

Relation  fixed  by  annual  conference,  115,  164 
Members  of  annual  conference,  105 
How  supported,  115,  122  (17,  21),  231a 
The  allowance  for,  222 
Quarterly  conference,  relation  of,  164 
Made  effective  by  annual  conference,  428 
Preachers,  Supernumerary 
Relation  defined,  163 

Relation  fixed  by  annual  conference,  163 
Members  of  annual  conference,  105 
Quarterly  conference,  relation  of,  163 
Preachers,  Traveling 

The  call  to  preach,  134 

Of  the  marriage  of,  135 

On  trial,  how  received,  150 

On  trial,  church  relationship,  150  (2)  409 

On  trial,  how  long  continued,  151,  155  (1) 

On  trial,  not  eligible  as  delegates,  130  (2) 

On  trial,  amenability  of,  123  (5),  168,  197 
In  full  membership,  how  admitted,  151 
Permanent  members  of  annual  conference,  49 
Course  of  study  for,  350-354 

Stationing  committee  to  fix  appointments,  9,  114 
Amenability  of,  189,  122  (14) 

How  received  from  other  churches,  152 
May  be  transferred  how,  122  (11),  159  (5,  6) 

May  be  declared  withdrawn  by  annual  conference,  154 
Received,  changed,  etc.,  how,  159  (4,  5),  160  (7) 
Members  of  quarterly  conference,  125  (1) 

Members  of  official  board,  128  (1) 

Rules  for  conduct  of,  135,  136 

Qualifications  of,  137,  138 

Voting  in  business  meetings  on  circuit,  430 

Duties  of  and  directions  to,  161,  162 

Use  of  time,  147 

Necessity  of  union,  148 

Deportment  at  conference,  86 

Where  and  how  to  preach,  139-141 

Pastoral  visiting  and  fidelity,  142-147 

To  discourage  improper  marriages,  66,  67 

Solemnizing  marriage  of  divorced  persons,  69,  70 

Preside  at  official  meeting,  128  (2) 


Reading] 


INDEX 


329 


Preside  at  circuit  meeting,  130  (1) 

Preside  at  society  meeting,  132  (2) 

Call  extra  circuit  meeting,  130  (5) 

Hold  watch-night  service,  love-feasts,  etc.,  161  (4) 
Preach  out  of  doors,  etc.,  161  (13) 

Have  charge  of  the  pulpit,  236 
Enforce  discipline,  46,  67,  71,  161  (11) 

Duty  as  to  classes  and  leaders,  161  (3,  13),  176  (1,  4) 

Duty  as  to  Sunday-schools,  251 

Give  certificates  of  membership,  79,  161  (14) 

Take  up  all  conference  collections,  161  (13),  99  (1) 
Raise  missionary  money,  267  (2) 

Keep  local  preachers  employed.  169 

Duty  as  to  church  property,  161  (17,  18),  236,  244 

Appointed  without  having  charge  of  circuit,  118,  447 

Who  refuses  to  travel  circuit  assigned,  114 

Cannot  be  appointed  to  two  circuits,  414  (2,  3) 

Support  of,  41  (3),  216 

Trial  of,  184-195 

Appeal  of,  97  (3),  103  (1),  191-193 
If  restored  must  give  legal  satisfaction,  154 
Preaching — See  Worship 

Directions  concerning,  139-141 
Preamble  to  constitution,  15 
Probation,  reception  on,  74 

Probation,  members  may  be  placed  on,  as  penalty,  202 
Probationers 

How  admitted  to  church,  75 
How  admitted  to  annual  conference,  150 
How  admitted  to  full  membership,  151 
In  conference,  not  eligible  to  act  as  delegates,  130  (2) 
In  conference,  not  members  of  societies,  409  (1) 
Prohibition— See  Temperance 
Public  worship — See  Worship 
Publications,  Denominational — See  Books 
Free  Methodist  paper,  122  (20) 

Tract  distribution,  161  (13) 

Furnished  by  the  publishing  house,  293  (1) 
Publishing  agent — See  Agent 
Publishing  House 
Chapter  on,  293 
Site  of,  how  changed,  104 
To  furnish  blanks,  224 

To  make  appropriation  to  claimants’  fund,  219 
Punctuality,  rules  for  preachers,  135 
Quarterly  conference — See  Conferences 
Quarterly  Meeting 

Circuit,  to  be  held  by  district  elder,  160  (5) 

General,  district  elder  to  hold  four  annually,  160  (4) 
General,  quarterly  conference  to  be  held,  125  (2) 
Raising  money,  modern  expedients  prohibited,  11 
Reading  of  unprofitable  books  forbidden,  43 


330 


INDEX 


[Members 


Reception  of  Members 
On  probation.  74 

Into  full  membership,  form  for,  75 
From  other  evangelical  churches,  77 
May  be  reinstated,  78 

Recognition  of  parchments  given  by  other  churches,  152 
Recommendations 

For  exhorter's  license,  173  (3) 

Local  preacher's  license,  129  (7) 

Traveling  preacher's  license,  150 
For  deacon's  orders,  106 
For  elder's  orders,  167 
For  evangelist's  license,  172  (1-4) 

For  deaconess’  license,  174  (1-6) 

Band  workers,  175  (1) 

Recording  secretary  of  official  board,  128  (3) 

Reinstating  members  who  withdrew,  7S 
Religion,  personal,  family,  142-R16 
Repentance,  grant  of  not  to  be  denied,  27,  46 
Repentance,  preacher  to  bring  sinners  to,  135 
Reports 

Of  general  conference  board  of  trustees,  3S3  (5) 

Of  missionary  board,  261  (1) 

Of  conference  Sunday-school  secretary,  250*  (8) 

Of  district  elders  to  bishops,  160  (9) 

Of  preachers  to  quarterly  conference,  161  (7) 

Of  preachers  regarding  Sunday-schools,  253  (4) 
Preachers  to  annual  conference,  122  (17-23),  161  (6), 
399 

Of  preachers  to  societies,  161  (8) 

Of  preachers  to  successors,  161  (10) 

Of  trustees  to  societies,  234 
Reproof,  preacher's,  just,  loving,  plain,  speedy.  135 
Representation  in  general  conference,  basis  of.  51,  52,  88 
Representation  in  annual  conference,  basis  of,  106 
Restoration  of  credentials,  196 
Restrictive  rules,  61,  97 
Restrictive  rules,  how  altered,  62,  98 
Resurrection  of  Christ,  article  on.  IS 
Retaliation  forbidden  by  general  rules,  43 
Rites  and  ceremonies  of  churches,  article  on,  36 
Ritual 

Baptism,  340,  341,  342 
Lord's  Supper,  343,  344 
Solemnizing  matrimony,  345 
Burial  of  the  dead.  346 
Ordination  of  elders,  347 
Ordination  of  deacons,  348 
Dedication  of  churches,  349 
Rules — See  General  Rules 

For  a  preacher's  conduct,  135,  136 

Restrictive,  61,  97 

Restrictive,  how  altered,  62,  98 


Society] 


INDEX 


331 


Sabbath,  desecration  of  forbidden,  43 
Sacraments 

Article  on,  32 
Baptism,  article  on,  33 
Baptism,  ritual  for,  340-342 
Lord’s  Supper,  article  on,  34 
Lord’s  Supper,  ritual  for,  343,  344 
Salaries  of  church  officials,  103 

Salvation,  sufficiency  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  for,  20 
Sanctification 
Article  on,  28 
By  the  Holy  Ghost,  10 

Experience  of  insisted  on,  7,  75  (2),  151  (4) 
Schools,  Free  Methodist,  247  (4) 

Scriptures,  sufficiency  of,  article  on,  20 
Scriptures  to  be  searched,  45,  138  (2),  143 
Seats  in  churches  to  be  free,  13,  97  (2),  238 
Secret  societies,  72,  73 
Secretary 

Of  general  conference,  95 
Of  general  missionary  board,  265,  387 
Of  board  of  education,  387 
General  Sunday-school,  249  (3),  387 
Conference  Sunday-school,  duties  of,  250 
Of  board  of  conference  examiners,  382  (5),  387 
Of  annual  conference,  duties,  110  (2),  11,  404,  416 
Of  quarterly  conference,  duties  of,  125  (4) 

Of  circuit  meeting,  130  (1) 

Of  society  meeting,  132  (2) 

Of  official  board,  election  and  duties  of,  128  (3) 
Self-denial,  44,  138  (4,  5) 

Seminaries,  list  of,  247  (4) 

Sermons,  Special 
Various,  146 

On  Christian  education,  248  (1) 

To  the  children,  253  (2) 

On  Sunday-schools,  253  (1) 

On  practical  charity,  291  (7) 

On  dress,  Wesley,  to  be  read,  71  (1) 

On  evil  speaking,  Wesley,  to  be  read,  146  (2) 
Sick 

Preacher  to  be  informed  of,  41,  178  (4) 

Preacher  to  visit,  161  (13) 

Official  board  to  look  afrer,  129  (6) 

Sin,  articles  of  religion  on,  22,  27 
Singing,  Congregational 
Enjoined,  10,  81 

Competent  leaders  to  be  appointed,  81  (4) 
Cultivation  of  sacred  music  enjoined,  81  (3) 

Free  Methodist  hymnal  to  be  used,  81  (7) 
Slavery,  43 

Smuggling  forbidden,  43,  146  (5) 

Society 


332 


INDEX 


[Society 


United  societies,  in  general  rules,  39,  40 
Local,  defined,  132  (1) 

Admission  into,  42,  74-77 
Powers  of,  132  (3),  133,  407,  442 
May  restore  expelled  members,  208 
May  reinstate  members  who  withdrew,  78 
Organized  near  boundary  line,  108 
Woman's  missionary,  constitution  of,  4S2 
Society  Meeting 

Chapter  on,  132,  133 

May  constitute  the  circuit  meeting,  130  (3) 

Order  of  business,  133 
Pastors  cannot  vote,  430 
Son  of  God — See  Christ 

Speaking  in  tongue  people  understand,  article  on,  30 
Special  Advices 

Chapter  on,  63-73 
Temperance,  63-65 
Marriage  and  divorce,  66-70 
Dress,  71 

Secret  societies,  72,  73 
Labor  unions,  73 
Stationing  Committee 
How  chosen,  9,  114 
President  of,  lias  casting  vote,  114 
Duties  of  and  limitations  of,  9,  114 
Who  are  eligible  to  act  on.  114 
Substitute  for  district  elder  on,  114 
Supply  cannot  act  on,  114 

Statistics  of  annual  conferences,  reports  of,  122  (16-24) 
Statistics  to  be  supplied  by  preachers,  161  (6) 

Stewards 

Chapter  on,  177,  178 

Number  of  and  how  elected,  177,  (2,  3) 

Qualifications  of,  177  (1) 

Duties  of,  178,  216  (4) 

Are  members  of  official  board,  128  (1) 

Are  members  of  quarterly  conference,  125  (1) 
Special  stewardship  fund,  124 y2 
Study,  courses  of — See  Courses  of  Study 
Sunday-schools 

Chapter  on,  249-256 

How  established,  253  (1),  252  (2) 

Duties  of  pastors  concerning,  253 
Number  and  amount  raised  for,  to  be  reported,  253  (4) 
May  not  use  instrumental  music,  433 
Superintendent  of,  how  elected,  132  (3),  255 
Superintendent  may  be  nominated  by  pastor,  255 
Superintendent  member  official  board,  when,  12S  (1) 
Superintendent  member  quarterly  conference,  125  (1) 
Offering  for  Sunday-school  work  required,  256 
Christmas  service,  how  provided,  254  (6) 

Proper  outings  provided  for,  254  (6) 


Paper] 


INDEX 


333 


Proper  facilities  for,  244  (4> 

Sunday-school  Board 
General  board,  249 

Time  of  meeting  of  general  board,  249  (2) 

Duties  of  general  board,  249  (2,  3) 

Expenses  to  be  paid,  249  (5) 

Members  of  general  board,  249  (6),  394 
Local  board,  254 

Local  board,  bow  constituted,  254  (1) 

Duties  of  local  board,  254  (3-7) 

Meetings  of  when  held,  254  (1) 

Order  of  business  for,  254  (7) 

Sunday-school  Literature 

Editor  of,  how  elected,  57,  (1),  94 
Supply  of  for  schools,  254  (5),  252  (7) 
Sunday-school  Secretary 

General,  elected  by  general  conference,  94 
Conference,  duties  of,  252  • 

Superannuated — See  Preachers  and  Claimants 
Supernumerary — See  Preachers 
Supererogation,  works  of,  article  on,  26 
Supply 

Traveling  preacher  employed  as,  relation  of,  426 
Local  preacher  or  evangelist  engaged  as,  170 
To  transfer  membership,  when,  170 
Support 

Of  gospel,  wrong  means  for,  11 

By  class  contributions,  41  (3),  83  (1),  178  (1),  216  (3) 
Of  bishops,  214 
Of  district  elders,  215 
Of  preachers  in  charge,  216 

Of  pastors,  official  board  to  estimate  for,  216  (1) 

Of  local  preachers  in  some  cases,  162 
Of  evangelists,  217 
Of  missions,  259,  267,  268 
Of  superannuated  preachers,  21S-231a 
Of  widows  and  orphans  of  preachers,  221,  223,  225 
Of  evangelists  by  conference  board,  119 
Tithing  system  recommended,  161  (19),  216  (5) 
Budget  system  recommended,  216  (5) 

Surrender  of  parchments,  196  (3),  427 
Suspension  of  traveling  preacher,  187-189 
Suspension  of  local  preacher,  199 
Temperance 

General  rule  on,  43 
Special  advice,  63-65 
In  all  things,  138  (5) 

Temporal  Economy 
- — See  Support 

Church  property,  232-244 
Church  and  parsonage  aid,  244a 
Testimony  of  members  at  a  distance,  79  (2) 

The  Free  Methodist 


334 


INDEX 


[Time 


Editor  of,  how  elected,  57  (1),  94 
Copies  of  taken,  to  be  reported,  122  (20) 

Time,  improvement  of  by  preachers,  135,  147 
Time  Limit 

For  preachers,  114 
Exception  to,  114 

Not  to  be  abolished  by  general  conference,  97  (2) 
For  district  elders,  160  (12) 

Tobacco,  rule  on,  43,  75  (6) 

Tract  distribution,  161  (13) 

Transfer 
— See  Certificate 

Of  church  membership,  79 

Of  conference  membership,  122  (11,  13),  159  (6) 
Transubstantiation,  doctrine  of  unscriptura'l,  34 
Traveling  expenses  of  district  elders,  160  (3) 

Treasure,  laying  up  on  earth  forbidden,  43 
Treasurer 

Of  the  general  conference,  election  of  57  (1),  94 
Of  general  conference  trustees,  390 
Of  the  church  funds,  388 

Of  the  board  of  education,  name  and  address  of,  388 
Custodian  of  educational  funds,  248 
Woman’s  missionary  society,  388,  482  (5) 

Of  annual  conference,  election  of,  110  (3) 

Vacancy,  how  filled,  110  (3) 

Annual  report  of,  122  (17-23) 

Of  quarterly  conference,  125  (4) 

Treasurer  of  General  Missionary  Board 
Election  of,  258  (1) 

May  be  chosen  outside  the  board,  258  (1) 

Duties  of,  266 

Vacancy  in  office  of,  how  filled,  258  (2) 

To  disburse  funds  subject  to  the  board,  259,  264  (3,  4) 
Trials,  Church 

Chapter  on,  179-208 
Objects  of,  179-181 

Privilege  of  not  to  be  abolished,  61  (3),  97  (3) 

By  an  impartial  committee  guaranteed,  61  (3),  97  (3) 

Accused  member  entitled  to  speedy,  403 

Of  an  accused  member,  202-206 

Who  shall  preside  at  trial  of  member,  206 

Election  of  committees  for,  204,  205 

Notification,  203 

Probation  for  penalty  not  to  exceed  six  months,  202 
When  under  penalty  must  vacate  offices,  202a,  480 
When  under  penalty  must  surrender  credentials, 
202a 

When  under  penalty  must  not  exercise  official  func¬ 
tions,  208a 

Trials  of  Local  Preachers 
Section  on,  197-201 

By  quarterly  conference  or  committee,  197,  198 


Vacancies] 


INDEX 


335 


Presiding  officer,  198 
Suspension  of,  199 
Change  of  venue,  183,  200 
Appeal  of,  201 

Of  probationers  in  annual  conference,  197 
Trials  of  Traveling  Preachars 
Section  on,  184-195 
Grounds  of  complaint,  184 
Disciplinary  labor  with,  184 

To  be  furnished  with  charges  ten  days  before,  185 
Suspension  of  between  conference  sessions,  186-188 
Annual  conference  has  original  jurisdiction  over,  189 
May  be  before  committee  appointed  by  conference,  190 
Right  of  appeal  guaranteed,  191 

Appeal,  may  be  tried  by  executive  committee,  103  (1) 
May  be  tried  by  general  conference  or  referred  by 
it  to  special  committee,  192 
Secretary,  appointment  and  duties  of,  182  (4) 

General  directions,  182,  183 
The  rule  given  by  Christ  obligatory,  180 
"When  previous  labor  is  not  required,  189,  423 
Absence  from,  189,  207 

Penalty  suspended  pending  hearing  of  appeal,  193 
Shall  not  exercise  ministerial  office,  193 
Form  of  bill  of  charges  against,  194 
Order  of  conducting  trial,  195 
Restoration  of  credentials,  196 
Triers  of  Appeals 

General  conference,  192 

Executive  committee,  103 

Annual  conference,  201 

Quarterly  conference,  207 

Who  may  not  sit  on  appeal  cases,  182  (5) 

General  directions  concerning,  182  (5-8) 

Verdicts  of,  allowable,  182  (7) 

Trinity,  Faith  in  Holy,  article  on,  16 
Trustees — See  Church  Property 

Of  general  conference,  name  and  address,  390 
Incorporation  of,  383 

Of  local  churches,  election  and  duties  of,  232-236 
Report  of,  234 

When  ceasing  to  be  members  of  the  church,  235 
Unacceptable  preacher,  how  removed,  160  (7) 

Union  among  ourselves,  148 

Unions — See  Labor  Unions 

Union  with  others,  149 

United  societies,  rise  of,  39 

United  societies,  general  rules  of,  41-46 

Usefulness,  general  rule,  44 

Usury,  or  unlawful  interest,  forbidden,  43 

Vacancies 

In  executive  committee,  how  filled,  102 

In  general  conference  elective  offices,  how  filled,  102 


336 


INDEX 


[Visiting 


In  missionary  board,  how  filled,  258  (2) 

Among  district  elders,  how  filled,  160  (15) 

In  board  of  trustees,  how  filled,  129  (16),  235 
Visiting  list  for  pastor's  successor,  161  (9,  10) 

Visiting,  pastoral,  143,  144,  151  (15),  161  (13) 

Voting 

In  annual  and  general  conferences,  9 
General  conference  quorum,  59,  92 
By  “orders”  in  general  conference,  60,  96 
By  “orders”  in  annual  conference,  112 
For  extra  session  general  conference,  54,  90 
On  changing  restrictive  rules,  62,  98 
Secure  division  of  house,  60,  96,  112 
President  of  stationing  committee  has  casting  vote, 
114 

By  ballot,  required  in  general  conference,  55,  57,  93,  94 
Executive  committee,  103  (3) 

Annual  conference,  110,  114 
Circuit  meeting,  130  (2),  177  (3) 

Classes,  176  (1) 

Bribery  for,  to  be  extirpated,  146  (6) 

For  prohibition,  a  duty,  65 

Respecting  right  of  preacher  in  business  meeting, 
430 

Watch  night  meetings  to  be  held,  161  (4) 

Wesley,  John 

Historical  statement,  1 
United  societies,  39-46 

Widows  of  preachers — See  Conference  Claimants  and 
Support 

Will,  Free,  grace  necessary  to,  23 
Wine,  unfermented  for  Lord’s  Supper,  64 
Withdrawal 

Of  preachers,  122  (2),  153  (4),  154,  431,  432 
Credentials  to  be  surrendered  by  preachers,  427 
Of  members,  to  be  reported  by  pastors,  161  (8) 

On  validity  of  letter  of,  418 
Certificate  of,  79  (5) 

Woman's  auxiliary  missionary  board,  441 
Woman’s  missionary  society,  constitution  of,  482 
Women 

Preacher’s  conduct  toward,  135 

May  be  delegates  to  conference,  410,  411 

May  be  members  of  annual  conference,  120,  172  (3,  4) 

May  be  ordained  deacon,  120 

As  deaconesses,  174 

Members  of  general  missionary  board,  258  (1) 

May  be  received  into  traveling  connection,  172  (3) 
Words,  using  many  in  buying  and  selling,  43 
Works 

Good,  article  on,  25 
General  rules  concerning,  44 
Of  supererogation,  26 


Worship] 


INDEX 


Worldly  amusements  prohibited,  12 
Worship 

Character  of  true,  10 
Chapter  on,  80-85 
Order  of,  80 
Attendance  on,  45 
Singing  a  part  of,  81 
In  language  understood,  30 
Love-feasts  to  be  held,  82 
Class  meetings  to  be  held,  83 
General  class  meeting,  84 
Rites  and  ceremonies,  36 
Neglect  of,  85 


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